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Sleep problems are the major reported consequence of working on shifts. The specificity of working on rotating shifts is not always captured by the instruments used in other samples. The Bergen Shift Work Seep Questionnaire (BSWSQ) is a self-report tool able to identify insomnia symptoms' presence and severity and distinguish differences by shift and rest days/vacations. The aim of the current study was to present preliminary psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the BSWSQ. Data from 569 shift workers in a Portuguese paper industry were collected and analysed. The results indicated good internal consistency and significant correlations among insomnia symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress. The insomnia scores considering the various shifts were significant differents. Almost 63% of the shift workers were classified as having "shift-related insomnia". ROC analysis found optimal cut-offs for the presence of insomnia in each shift and rest days/vacations. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed excellent fit. The BSWSQ seems to be a measure with good psychometric properties, capable of evaluate the presence and severity of insomnia symptoms related to each shift. However, more studies are necessary, specifically with other shift-work samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to validate a data collection tool's psychometric properties to explore whether business management research's relevance is a high-order construct made up of its perceived interest and perceived relevance. The authors conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to validate a two-factor scale. The sample was composed of 148 MBA students from a Peruvian business school. Results showed the appropriate levels of validity and reliability and confirmed the usefulness of this data set for exploring the relationship between perceived interest and relevance. Businesses and schools can replicate the validated tool for reviewing their curricula and teaching practices, exploring the gap between business and management research results and advancing managers' research literacy and evidence-based practice in business education and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypersexuality is a problematic behavior characterized by the combination of an excessive sexual desire and the pathological inability to control it. This study presents the psychometric properties of the Spanish paper-and-pencil and online versions of the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), one of the most popular scales to assess this issue. A total of 2,250 participants (1,070 men) completed a translated version of the HBI (1,450 in paper-and-pencil; 800 online). The exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors that explained 67.53% of total variance for the HBI paper-and-pencil version. This factor structure was confirmed in the HBI online version through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Factorial, structural, scalar and error variance-invariance according to gender was also confirmed through multigroup CFA. Reliability of the total score and subscales ranged between .89 and .96. Likewise, correlations with other related scales were positive and significant (r between .511 and .743). Temporal stability one year after the first application was .77 (paper-and-pencil format) and .68 (online version). These results support the reliability and validity of the HBI and justify its use in the assessment of hypersexuality in Spanish-speaking countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of insect biodiversity is a major global sustainability issue that is highly relevant to science education. Science education can support and develop learners' competence to take actions to sustain insect biodiversity and empower learners to deal actively with this sustainability issue. However, we currently lack an instrument to assess these aspects of individual competence. This paper aims to fill this gap by introducing the Self-Perceived Action Competence for Insect Conservation scale (SPACIC). This scale allows for investigating learners' action competence by focusing on self-perceived knowledge, confidence, and willingness to take insect conservation actions. The scale is grounded in theory and face-validated by external experts. The piloting with 180 secondary school students showed a good quality of the instrument in terms of reliability and validity, as the reliability analyses and confirmatory factor analysis show. The SPACIC scale is applicable to various formal and informal educational settings. Applying the scale can yield information about the effects of educational approaches and inform learners, educators, and researchers about changes in self-perceived competence. In this way, the SPACIC scale can contribute to the evaluation and design of educational approaches and eventually boost learners' development into becoming active environmental citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the implications of quality for the survival and performance of business and non-business organizations, research on its operationalization and measurement especially as it relates to services have continued to increase over the years. There is, however, a glaring dearth of research on the measurement of service quality in the non-business context, especially in the religious setting though it is a thriving segment of the market for services. Building on the Push–Pull–Mooring framework and following a multistage procedure involving both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), this paper described the procedure employed in developing and validating the P-P-Relqual scale for measuring the quality of services offered by Christian religious service providers in the Nigerian context. The final version of the validated scale is made up of 11 items, measured on a five-point Likert scale, which were categorized into four dimensions (Conflict, Appeal of pastor, Appeal of Church, and Opportunity for Development). Based on the result obtained, the paper concluded that adherents will perceive the religious service they receive as being of a high quality, if their providers can strategize to effectively minimize intra-church “conflict” while enhancing “Appeal of pastor,” “Appeal of Church,” and “Opportunity for Development.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hotel booking websites to collect information about hospitality products/services are becoming more popular in the hotel industry. As a result, the importance of these websites for tourism firms marketing their services and products through electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on these hotel booking websites continues to grow. Despite its importance, there has been little research on how guests interact with information to increase eWOM. This paper creates a new scale for assessing guest interaction with Meituan.com information to fill this void. To this end, a three-step mixed-methods approach using open-ended surveys and published relevant research is used. Data were gathered from 440 hotel guests in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Using SmartPLS 4, confirmatory factor analysis revealed 33 final items for the new scale. This paper significantly contributes to potential guest behavior by creating and confirming this new scale in the hospitality context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this paper, we developed and validated the Orientation to School Renewal instrument,a 21-item instrument, based on seven factors, which allows schools to measure their school renewal efforts. The research is based on Goodlad's notion of school renewal. Through an extensive literature review and our work over an eight-year period engaged in discussions with over 110 principals and 300 teachers, we gradually developed dimensions of the construct of school renewal. We then obtained survey data from a sample of 1,195 teachers in 83 schools, and validated the instrument using confirmatory factor analysis and other procedures. The seven factors identified from the literature and discussions with K-12 educators and confirmed via the validation process included: (a) focus on students and their achievements, (b) continuous school improvement, (c) balance between the internal and external influences, (d) the dialogue, decision, action and evaluation (DDAE) process, (e) implementation integrity, (f) implementers as active developers, and (g) internal responsibility and professionalism. Researchers and practitioners can use the instrument to collect valid and reliable data to measure, evaluate, and understand school renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks are one of the largest and fastest-growing marketing tools in the world. Their strength is proven by 3.8 billion users worldwide in 2020. The tool offers great economic potential for a commercial brand. This paper focuses on the social network sought after by the millennials - Instagram. One advertisement on Instagram can reach up to 849 million users. One-third of so-called stories are commercial and 200 million users a day look at a business profile. The aim of this paper is to characterize the influence of interactivity in the form of 'liking', commenting, and sharing on consumer shopping behavior. The partial goal of the paper is to characterize the interests of users on the social network Instagram. The paper is based on the stimulus-organism-response paradigm developed by Howard and Sheth (1969). The research concerns the influence of interactivity on the motives for using Instagram (O) and especially on brand awareness and the intention to purchase (R). Interactivity only influences responses when it is mediated through the individual's motivation to use the application, whether for hedonistic or utilitarian reasons. The data were obtained using a questionnaire and were evaluated using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Equation Structural Modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With peer perceptions of vacation pictures on social media becoming firmly entrenched into the tourist psyche and the destination selection process, this paper buttresses the burgeoning research on social return's influence on travel behaviour through additional theoretical development and empirical investigation. The paper assesses the cross-cultural construct and predictive validity of the Social Return Scale across the United States of America's top-five international travel markets (Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Japan, and China) using a modified Theory of Planned Behaviour model grounded in Guttman's means-end chain model and Kenrick's Fundamental Motives Framework. Results confirm the scale's superb validity providing researchers with the theoretical and empirical support to confidently utilize the Social Return Scale to measure the perceived social return of different travel experiences across different contexts and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper uses an ongoing business-to-business (B2B) relationship perspective to establish the interrelationships between trust, commitment, and relationship satisfaction (as relational constructs) and specific assets, formalization, and opportunism (as transaction cost variables) from a buyer's perspective, framed within micro-enterprises in the business banking industry in South Africa. Data were collected via self-administered online questionnaires from 381 micro-enterprise customers of one of South Africa's major banks. We first used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the measurement model before structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the hypothesized relationships between the study constructs. The measurement and structural models fitted the data well. The research was approached using the dual theoretical lenses of relationship marketing and transaction cost theory to investigate relationship satisfaction from a buyer's perspective. The results support the notion that, in a B2B context, relationship satisfaction is an outcome of trust and commitment, with commitment being the stronger predictor. Relationship satisfaction, in turn, was positively related to both specific assets and formalization (the relationship with formalization being the strongest), and a negative relationship between relationship satisfaction and opportunism. Since our results found commitment to be a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction than trust (contrary to much previous research that found the opposite to be true), the paper concludes with several commitment-related suggestions for banks. Although much research exists on trust, commitment, and satisfaction, to our knowledge this study is the first using dual theoretical lenses (relationship marketing and transaction cost theory) to investigate relationship satisfaction from a buyer's perspective among micro-enterprise customers in a banking context. The insights gained from our study therefore not only address this under-researched area (micro-enterprises), but also contribute toward expanding our understanding of forming (and maintaining) banking relationships with the customers of the smallest-sized businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the key factors influencing driving risk perception in Iran. We conducted separate surveys for two groups of Iranian drivers, namely passenger car drivers and truck drivers. In order to assess driving risk perception, respondents were asked what they think about their Probability of Having a Road Accident (PHRA) and if they eventually have an accident as a driver, what they think about the Probability of it being Fatal or causing Severe Injury (PFSI). A Bivariate Ordered Probit model, which considers the possible correlation between PHRA and PFSI, was developed to explain the observed driving risk perception using type of vehicle, driving experience, socio-demographic information, and driving behaviour. According to the results, vehicle type, vehicle age, driving experience, sleep quality, at-fault accidents over the past three years, vehicles safety-related equipment, and education level have significant effects on driving risk perception (p-value < 0.05). In addition, this paper compares the driving risk perception of truck and passenger car drivers. The results show that truck drivers have a higher perception of PHRA and PFSI compared with passenger car drivers (p-value < 0.05). The results may convince policy-makers to consider the characteristics of the two categories of drivers when designing regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal measurement invariance—the consistency of measurement in data collected over time—is a prerequisite for any meaningful inferences of growth patterns. When one or more items measuring the construct of interest show noninvariant measurement properties over time, it leads to biased parameter estimates and inferences on the growth parameters. In this paper, I extend the recently developed alignment-within-confirmatory factor analysis (AwC) technique to adjust for measurement biases for growth models. The proposed AwC method does not require a priori knowledge of noninvariant items and the iterative searching of noninvariant items in typical longitudinal measurement invariance research. Results of a Monte Carlo simulation study comparing AwC with the partial invariance modeling method show that AwC largely reduces biases in growth parameter estimates and gives good control of Type I error rates, especially when the sample size is at least 1,000. It also outperforms the partial invariance method in conditions when all items are noninvariant. However, all methods give biased growth parameter estimates when the proportion of noninvariant parameters is over 25%. Based on the simulation results, I conclude that AO is a viable alternative to the partial invariance method in growth modeling when it is not clear whether longitudinal measurement invariance holds. The current paper also demonstrates AwC in an example modeling neuroticism over three time points using a public data set, which shows how researchers can compute effect size indices for noninvariance in AwC to assess to what degree invariance holds and whether AwC results are trustworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global competence is a complex concept as it is multifaceted, composite, multi-layered, multidimensional, and can be viewed from several perspectives. A previous study validated a set of rubrics designed to assess pre-service teachers’ development of global competence. The research presented in this paper tested the internal consistency and reliability of the set of rubrics in order to create an instrument validated within the international context that was robust and consistent from a methodological point of view. The set of rubrics was self-administered online by 729 pre-service teachers studying in 12 teacher education programmes across 10 different countries around the world. The data analysis showed a high level of reliability and internal consistency of the rubrics, indicating their ability to assess pre-service teachers’ global competence. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis suggested changes to two areas of the rubrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an econometric modelling framework to unravel the communication and mobility issues of visually impaired pedestrians in the context of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs). The research uses a dataset collected through a tailor-made stated-preference survey given to visually impaired pedestrians and provides evidence-based recommendations on communication techniques. The recommendations are based on the findings of a structural equation model (SEM) estimated using the survey data. The latent factors 'safety and security' and 'importance of hearing' are generated using a confirmatory factor analysis embedded in the SEM. The results from the model show that these two factors have negative influences on how much a visually impaired pedestrian trusts the use of CAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great part of the comparative international research that has attempted to measure meritocratic beliefs has used the social inequality module of the ISSP (International Social Survey Programme), which offers an unprecedented opportunity to compare meritocratic views in different societies. Based on a series of studies using ISSP data, the present paper proposes a multidimensional measurement framework for meritocratic beliefs. This framework distinguishes, on the one side, between perceptions and preferences and, on the other side, between meritocratic and not meritocratic aspects. In the first study, we test the multidimensional framework for meritocratic beliefs using the ISSP 2009 inequality module through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) techniques. After identifying the advantages and some limitations of ISSP items for a multidimensional operationalization of meritocratic beliefs, in a second study, we suggest a modified set of items that better taps the different dimensions of meritocracy. We examined the measuring properties of this new instrument using a sample of Chilean adults (N = 2,141). Based on these results, we recommend improvements in measuring meritocratic beliefs in cross-national studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsafe acts of ship officers have been a direct cause of many maritime accidents. In the maritime industry, much effort has been made to prevent unsafe acts and to improve safe behaviours of ship officers. The positive effect of organizational safety climate on human behaviour has been well documented in the literature. Within this context, this paper aims to pioneer the development of the measurement constructs of safety climate in shipping operations and analyze its impact on safety consciousness and behaviour of ship officers. Using primary data collected from 284 deck officers and captains, an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation model are used to reveal the relationship among the constructs of safety climate, safety consciousness and safety behaviour. The research results show that (1) safety climate generates a direct positive effect on safety consciousness and behaviour; (2) safety consciousness has a positive effect on safety behaviour; and (3) safety consciousness acts as a mediator between safety climate and safety behaviour. Its managerial implications and practical contributions lie in the provision of useful insights on how ship managers can effectively gain the improved safety behaviours of ship officers by appropriate introduction of safety climate and consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risks can negatively affect not only internal processes within a company and business results but also managerial decisions. One of the preconditions for sound decision-making would be the identification of specific risks. The primary goal of this paper is to create a structural model for exploring the interrelationships among sources of business risks and the operational performance of SMEs. A survey was conducted in 1,781 SMEs from selected Central European countries. CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) was used to check the reliability and validity of the model. The Cronbach's alpha test was used to assess the internal consistency of data collection instruments. For measurement of sample adequacy, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test was used. The model presented in this paper provides a tool for identifying the interrelationships among sources of business risks, operational performance and the market position. The model can help managers of SMEs focus on specific areas of their business that should not be ignored in decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk perceptions are key constructs in some theories of health behavior. A tripartite model of risk perception, the TRIRISK model, was developed to assess deliberative, affective, and experiential components of risk perception. The current paper attempts to replicate the factor structure of the TRIRISK measure for cancer and extend the structure to respiratory illness. Participants 18 or older were recruited using an address-based sample in New York State to participate in a Web-based survey. We employed the TRIRISK questionnaire with respect to cancer and respiratory illness. Confirmatory Factor Analyses were conducted in Mplus to validate the TRIRISK model in our sample. TRIRISK model fit across demographic and behavioral groups was tested using multiple-group models. Of the 704 people included in the analysis, the mean age of participants was 46.9, the majority reported being female (58.5%), and most were White (81.7%). For cancer and respiratory illness, items loaded on the respective constructs as expected. Overall, the TRIRISK model framework fits well across differing subgroups, suggesting that this is a valid model of risk perception to use in a general population sample. These results provide further evidence that the TRIRISK model is a good model to use for risk perceptions in tobacco control research. The TRIRISK model can be used to communicate risk to encourage positive health behaviors among most sociodemographic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of the study that was initiated to develop and standardize a measure of Social Interaction (SI). The items were split into five different types of social interaction: exchange, competition, conflict, cooperation and accommodation. The systematic process that was used to construct and validate the tool is delineated in this study. The theoretical foundation for the questionnaire was carried out through a literature review. The item pool was generated with each statement reflecting the different aspects of interaction. Initially, experts in the field of social psychology reviewed the items for content validity and refined the items. The preliminary version of the questionnaire was tested using a pilot study. A larger validation was done with a larger population to confirm the factor structure using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The model fit indices were good for the obtained model (CFI = 0.929, IFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.920, RMSEA = 0.053), confirming that the model structure is robust. The final questionnaire has 26 items with a reliable and valid measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionThe Therapist Work Involvement Scales (TWIS) is a self-report research instrument that enables a multilayered description of psychotherapists’ experiences when treating clients. The TWIS was created in a comprehensive study of close to 5,000 psychotherapists, and has been used in multiple studies. The aim of the current paper is to clarify the organization and statistical characteristics of the TWIS, and to present an updated version for longitudinal and cross-sectional research.Collection of a large sample of psychotherapy trainees made possible the use of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the dimensions and structure of therapists’ process experiences, assessing reliabilities, measurement invariance over gender, item statistics, and correlations with other measures to show concurrent and predictive validity.The CFAs largely confirmed the factor structure of four of the five facets, and of the global super-factors. The global factors of Healing Involvement and Stressful Involvement each showed substantial correlations with therapists’ attachment style and professional growth, and were used to describe four practice patterns that typify the experiences of therapists.The results have shown the TWIS to be a statistically sound, multidimensional research instrument enabling therapists to describe their experience in current therapeutic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAimsMethodFindingsConclusionsPregnancy is a transformative time for women and their bodies, and therefore thoughts and feelings about the body understandably change during this period. While previous research has established the impact of body dissatisfaction on factors like antenatal attachment and maternal mental health, there is a notable gap in understanding its long-term effects on postnatal factors. This is often due to high attrition rates in longitudinal studies. Using retrospective measures could address this issue, however a measure of retrospective pregnant body dissatisfaction has not yet been identified.This paper aimed to create a retrospective measure of pregnancy body dissatisfaction by adapting a previously validated measure. It also aimed to investigate the relationship between retrospective accounts of body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and postnatal anxiety, depression, and bonding.Cross-sectional online survey data was collected from women postnatally (N = 404).An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified a two-factor model of retrospective body dissatisfaction, adapted from the Body Understanding Measure for Pregnancy Scale, which was equivalent to two of the original subscales. Using this factor structure, linear regressions demonstrated that higher levels of retrospective pregnant body dissatisfaction were associated with elevated rates of postnatal anxiety and depression and lower bonding scores.This study successfully established a measure for assessing retrospective pregnant body dissatisfaction, potentially aiding future research. Additionally, it has highlighted the link between pregnant body dissatisfaction and postnatal levels of depression, anxiety, and bonding. Thus, improving the pregnant bodily experience may have the potential to enhance the postnatal experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful implementation of Quality 4.0 (Q4.0) requires leadership, but the understanding of such leadership among scholars and practitioners is insufficient. The purpose of this paper is to explore a leadership scale to provide insights. This study develops the scale via 3 independent samples of quality personnel according to Hinkin's recommended scale development process. Exploratory factor analysis sheds light on the tri-dimensional structure of the scale, which comprises task-oriented, change-oriented, and relations-oriented behaviours. The results are affirmed by confirmatory factor analysis, which also demonstrates satisfactory reliability and construct validity. To further explore the predictive validity of leadership and delve deeper into its mechanics, based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study identifies connectivity and challenge stressors as keys to the 'Black Box' of the relationship between leadership and thriving at work. Structural equation modelling suggests that leadership has a positive influence on thriving at work, connectivity, and challenge stressors. Connectivity and challenge stressors mediate the relationship between leadership and thriving at work. The Q4.0 leadership scale can be used as a guideline for organisations embracing Q4.0 to select and appoint managers, as well as for quality leaders to evaluate and improve themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWhile the term feedback engagement has become a buzzword in higher education, the constructs of feedback engagement have remained inadequately investigated, and research on the conceptualization and instrumentation of feedback engagement in the literature is limited. This paper presents the development and validation of a feedback engagement scale that both reflects a prevalent multidimensional perspective of engagement in general education and is grounded in the prior empirical feedback research. Psychometric tests were conducted with a large disciplinarily diverse sample of university undergraduate students (N = 872). Findings of both confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group confirmatory factor analysis provide evidence of reliability, validity, and measurement invariance, for capturing the behavioural, cognitive, emotional, and social components of feedback engagement in higher education settings. The feedback engagement scale can be utilized both as a diagnostic tool for teachers to assess the level of student feedback engagement in academic learning and as a research tool for researchers to investigate the dynamic interplays between student feedback engagement and other learner/learning achievement variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops an instrument to measure the brand personality of employers in the healthcare sector. Focus group interviews, literature and internet searches were used to generate an initial item pool. Based on three online surveys among nursing staff, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and Rasch modeling were used for factor extraction, scale refinement, and scale evaluation. These analyses show that the employer brand personality can be operationalized as a higher-order construct with the dimensions of status, warmth, competence, and trustworthiness. In particular, these analyses confirm the reliability and validity of the delineated measurement instrument. Healthcare organizations from the public and nonprofit sector can thus use the measurement scale to assess their image as an employer as well as the effectiveness of their personnel marketing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolerance for wildlife can be informed by a person's beliefs, attitudes, norms, or other characteristics. Although theoretical papers emphasize the interrelations of these multiple antecedents of wildlife tolerance, empirical studies have not tested them using a rigorous scale development process. We used psychometrics to characterize the cognitive antecedents of tolerance toward black bears (Ursus americanus). Proposed scale items were tested via web-hosted questionnaire (n = 240) and refined into 29 items representing five antecedent dimensions of tolerance for black bears. We then administered these items to a different sample of recreational trail users in western Oregon (n = 210). Second-order confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a 19-item measure representing four distinct yet related antecedent dimensions of tolerance: antipathy, connection, lethal control (damage), and lethal control (danger to self, pets, and economics). These dimensions help better explain why people may be more or less tolerant toward black bears and, potentially, other wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that gender is an important factor explaining the differences of forest owners. Nonetheless, little research has focused on gender. Results from a questionnaire (n = 6558) conducted in Finland are utilised to study the gender, forest owner objectives and their connection with forest owner activity. This paper aims to validate a five-dimensional forest ownership objective structure utilising confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, gender differences between objectives and forest owner activity are studied. Based on the confirmatory analysis, results support the five-dimensional objective structure with women and men forest owners. Further analysis indicates that income is the only objective connected with activity and the relationships between the objectives and activity differ between genders. This model is the first to connect forest ownership dimensions with activities related to forest ownership in a confirmatory factor analysis. Understanding that only income-related objectives correlate with activity may help in understanding forest owners with diversifying objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Products are often valued for what they mean to people. The theoretical dimension that describes the meaning of products is referred to as symbolism. Symbolism plays an important role in product evaluations in pre-use conditions. This paper suggests a framework for the analysis of this dimension in product evaluations. Symbolism comprises varying mixtures of pragmatic, product, and user symbolism. Pragmatic symbolism, which includes the product's instrumental benefits, affects product symbolism, or the overall impression of the product. Product symbolism, in turn, affects user symbolism, which refers to the self-image of the product's user. Our findings, based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, suggest that while symbolic value formation often occurs in a bottom-up process, from pragmatic considerations upon which the product's image is built that transfer to the user, it can also be in a top-down process for specific types of products whose design elements directly affect the user's self-image. Symbolism is not a unified dimension, but comprises three sub-dimensions. Perceived usefulness and functional affordance positively affect the symbolic value of products. For most product types, the image of the product positively affects the image of its user. For most product types, the effect of product usefulness on user image is mediated by product image. While symbolism is usually formed in a bottom-up process, it can also be formed in a top-down process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant percentage of US households have at least one pet. A recent poll found that over 90% of pet owners feel their pet is a family member, suggesting the definition of "family" should include pets. Some studies have found that pet ownership has physical, mental, and social health benefits for the owner, although other research has not found this. It is thought this variability is due to methodological issues. A significant issue identified is measurement problems, including a lack of validity and reliability evidence. Measurement equivalence is an important type of this evidence, and Black/African Americans should be included in research on this as they are an understudied, historically marginalized population. The Family Bondedness Scale (FBS) is a recently developed measure of the degree to which a pet owner feels emotionally bonded to their pet in a manner comparable to their emotional bonding with a human member of their family. This paper describes a measurement equivalence study of the FBS between Black/African American (n = 496) and White (n = 405) pet-owning populations. Results of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses with covariates were consistent with configural, metric, and threshold equivalence between Black/African American and White pet owners. The use of this measure in research and professional practice for numerous professions, including veterinary medicine, social work, veterinary social work, psychology, and other professions is considered. Implications for future measurement equivalence and validity research on scores from the FBS are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though e-learning and learner's perspective have been researched a lot by researchers, there is a real dearth of quality empirical research studies on adoption of massive open online courses (MOOCs) from teachers' perspective in general and in Indian scenario in particular. In addition to accomplishing these, the presented research is also unique as it deploys technology acceptance model for Indian educators' perspective for the first time. Towards this end, the paper presents the development of seven hypotheses, their compilation in the proposed conceptual model followed by its testing with model-fit indices. Technically, two-step data analysis with confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis with structural equation modelling and reliability analysis with Cronbach's alpha (CA) have been carried out. This is the first formal attempt to statistically investigate and validate the determinants of teachers' acceptance and use of MOOCs. Specifically, the influence of social context, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and content quality on the teacher's intentions of adopting MOOCs have been examined. The role of mediating factors and the possibility of a teacher's intention to adopt MOOCs in the near future are also analysed in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police departments regularly conduct public opinion surveys to measure attitudes towards the police. The results of these surveys can be used to shape and evaluate policing policy and practice. Yet the extant evidence base is hampered when people use different methods and when there is no common data standard. In this paper we present a set of 13 core national indicators that can be used by police services across Canada to ensure measurement quality and draw proper comparisons between regions and over time. Having identified a set of 50 survey questions through an expert consultation process, we field those items on a quota sample of 2527 Canadians. Our analysis of the survey data has three stages. First, we use confirmatory factor analysis to assess scale properties. Second, we use substitution analysis to identify 13 single indicators that 'best stand in' for each scale. Third, we use the set of 50 and the sub-set of 13 measures to test procedural justice theory for the first time in the Canadian context. Overall, those commissioning and managing public attitudes surveys can use the 13 core indicators as a conceptually-rich and empirically-validated tool through which to understand local survey data in the context of other municipal, provincial, territorial and national contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within educational and social discourses, the term 'inclusion' has various meanings. In both research and practice, there is no official definition of inclusion. Nevertheless, subjective definitions affect pedagogical acts. We developed the Definitions of Inclusion Questionnaire [Fragebogen zur Erfassung subjektiver Definitionen von Inklusion] (FEDI) as an economic instrument that takes subjective definitions of inclusion into account. This paper describes the construction and first psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire instrument that 513 participants with various professional backgrounds completed. We used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two different subsamples to identify the measuring model. We found a three-factor structure with acceptable-to-good fit measures and an acceptable reliability (CR from.81 to.87). Small to medium correlations of the FEDI scales with attitudes towards inclusion and teachers' sense of efficacy suggest that discriminant validity is given. Perspectives for further research and implications for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the performance of regularized generalized least squares (RGLS) and reweighted least squares (RLS) methodologies in a confirmatory factor analysis model. Normal theory maximum likelihood (ML) and generalized least squares (GLS) statistics are based on large sample statistical theory. However, ML and GLS goodness-of-fit tests often make incorrect decisions on the true model, when sample size is small. The novel methods RGLS and RLS aim to correct the over-rejection by ML and under-rejection by GLS. Both methods outperform ML and GLS when samples are small, yet no studies have compared their relative performance. A Monte Carlo simulation study was carried out to examine the statistical performance of these two methods. We find that RLS and RGLS have equivalent performance when N ≥ 70; whereas when N < 70, RLS outperforms RGLS. Both methods clearly outperform ML and GLS with N ≤ 400. Nonetheless, adopting mean and variance adjusted test for non-normal data, RGLS slightly outperforms RLS. Power analyses found that RLS generally showed small loss in power compared to ML and performed better than RGLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human resources are recognized as the ultimate and most indispensable resource in economic development. In this study, an inquiry was made to ascertain the determinants of workers' innovativeness. A survey of 229 respondents in food and beverage processing firms selected through random and snowballing sampling techniques was implemented. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation model. Findings reveal that though personal, family, organizational and social factors were hypothesized to be influencing the ability of employees to innovate, only family (β = 0.358; p < 0.001) and organizational (β = 0.213; p < 0.01) factors showed a significant and positive influence on employees' innovativeness. The paper concludes that the support employees received from their homes and organizations is crucial and contributed significantly to their innovative ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the fit of a confirmatory factor analysis model, researchers often rely on fit indices such as SRMR, RMSEA, and CFI. These indices are frequently compared to benchmark values of.08,.06, and.96, respectively, established by Hu and Bentler (Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55). However, these indices are affected by model characteristics and their sensitivity to misfit can change across models. Decisions about model fit can therefore be improved by tailoring cutoffs to each model. The methodological literature has proposed methods for deriving customized cutoffs, although it can require knowledge of linear algebra and Monte Carlo simulation. Given that many empirical researchers do not have training in these technical areas, empirical studies largely continue to rely on fixed benchmarks even though they are known to generalize poorly and can be poor arbiters of fit. To address this, this paper introduces the R package, dynamic, to make computation of dynamic fit index cutoffs (which are tailored to the user's model) more accessible to empirical researchers. dynamic heavily automatizes this process and only requires a lavaan object to automatically conduct several custom Monte Carlo simulations and output fit index cutoffs designed to be sensitive to misfit with the user's model characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a quantile latent factor-on-image (Q-LoI) regression model to comprehensively investigate the relationship between the latent factor of interest and scalar and imaging predictors at different quantiles. The latent factor is characterized by several manifest variables through a confirmatory factor analysis model and then regressed on scalar and imaging covariates. We propose a two-stage method to conduct statistical inference. The first stage extracts leading features from the imaging data through the functional principal component analysis (FPCA) method. The second stage incorporates the extracted imaging features into the Q-LoI regression to examine the impacts of scalar and imaging covariates on the latent factor under various quantiles. A fully Bayesian method with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms is developed for parameter estimation. Simulation studies demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the proposed method. An application to the Alzheimer's disease study is presented to confirm the utility of our methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error variance in structural models is often specified as a conditional variance associated with a manifest variable or as a regression path from a standardized error variance. This paper describes scenarios in which specification of both terms is useful: (1) Corrections for attenuation in single indicator factor models; (2) Tests of the equality in the proportion of explained variance across multiple dependent variables in regression models; (3) Factor models with two indicators; and (4) Tests of invariance in the proportion of measurement error variance across occasions in growth curve models. Examples of such models using both simulated and real-world data are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The container shipping industry is receiving growing attention in driving the performance of global supply chains. This phenomenon has accelerated supply chain integration (SCI) within the industry. Although SCI could offer numerous benefits, it is often quoted to be implemented easier in theory than in practice. The high failure rate that is associated with SCI is often not addressed in the literature. Grounded on resource-based view (RBV) theory, this paper is aimed at identifying the critical success factors (CSFs) and examining their influence on SCI and supply chain performance (SCP). Survey questionnaires were administered on 164 container shipping firms. The constructs were validated empirically using confirmatory factor analysis and were subsequently analysed using structural equation modelling. The proposed CSFs in this study are found to be positively corelated with SCI, which, in turn, is positively correlated with SCP. This paper has contributed to both theory and practice by applying RBV theory to identify the key resources and capabilities that are necessary for SCI in the container shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-insights focused on the coping process are implicated in the refinement of capacities for resilience. To advance this research, we must identify key coping self-insights and develop a concise measurement tool. The purpose of this paper is to develop evidence for the construct dimensionality and validity of a measure of coping self-insight. Items measuring 13 coping self-insight dimensions were generated via consultation with theoretical work, subject matter experts, and pre-testing items for clarity. Thereafter, the dimensionality of items was assessed with undergraduate students (N = 232) and an online sample (N = 800) via exploratory and confirmatory analyses. Finally, a multi-trait, multi-method approach was used to test discriminant validity in a further sample of students (N = 228). The initial item list was reduced to five key dimensions that balanced data-driven and conceptual considerations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed moderate-to-strong correlations (r =.47–.80) among dimensions. We also demonstrated evidence of internal reliability, convergent, criterion, and discriminant validity. Invariance tests for sub-groups of interest (e.g., sex, sample type) frequently demonstrated metric or scalar invariance, except for age sub-groups. Findings offer a starting point regarding the types of coping self-insights important for the emergence of resilience and a validated tool for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substantial burden of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems is exacerbated by unclear pathology and ineffective diagnostic methods, hindering effective management. The painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) has been used to facilitate the evaluation and categorization of low back pain. While preliminary validation and translations of the paper-based format of PD-Q into languages such as Spanish and Dutch have been accomplished, the underlying factor model inherent to the electronic format of the PD-Q remains to be established. The objective of this study was to utilise confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to investigate the factor structure of an electronic format PD-Q among patients with neuropathic low back pain. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Spinal Clinic in Sydney between November 2020 and October 2022. Eligible participants were adults over 18 with low back pain and no history of lumbar surgery or systemic co-morbidities. Participants completed the electronic format of the PD-Q, and CFA was employed to assess the validity of the suggested two-factor, nine-item structure. Recommended cut-offs for goodness-of-fit indices were used to evaluate the model fit. Of the 236 patients that visited the clinic during the data collection period, 142 (71, 50% female, mean age 51.26 ± 15.28 years) participated in the study. Median pain severity was 9/10 over 4 weeks. CFA indicated strong model fit, with goodness-of-fit and comparative fit indices over 0.9, and overall internal consistency was 0.77. Construct validity analysis demonstrated the PD-Q's effectiveness in distinguishing neuropathic, mixed, and nociceptive LBP, aiding neuropathic pain evaluation in low back pain patients. This study confirms the reliability and two-factor structure of the electronic PD-Q for neuropathic pain assessment in low back pain patients. To enhance comprehension of the clinical applicability of the electronic format PD-Q, future research should conduct clinimetric evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the process of selecting between the increasingly popular bi-factor model and the second-order factor model in measurement research. It is indicated that in certain settings widely used in empirical studies, the second-order model is nested in the bi-factor model and obtained from the latter after imposing appropriate parameter constraints. These restrictions can be directly tested within the framework of the latent variable modeling methodology employing widely circulated software. The outlined model selection procedure provides a readily applied means of choosing between the two models of growing interest to measurement scholars, and is illustrated using numerical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has holistically affected the financial and industrial sectors of China, in a considerably adverse manner. This paper aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the transportation and logistics sector in China. In this regard, the study opted for a quantitative method of research design, along with primary data collection. The explanatory variable here is the COVID-19 virus, whereas, the dependent variables are air freight, ocean freight, and land freight. The data analysis technique used is the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis, comprising of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and the path assessment method. A structured survey questionnaire was also used, and the survey questionnaire scale was set from strongly agree to disagree strongly. The findings revealed that the effect of COVID-19 on air freight is statistically negative and significant. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on land freight is statistically negative and significant, whereas the effect of COVID-19 is statistically insignificant in the context of ocean freight, particularly during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, keeping these results in consideration, policymakers can enhance their support, so as to increase the performance of the logistics and transportation sector in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the items of two scales, the Random Events Knowledge Test (REKT) and the Chance Test, and examines their relationship with problem gambling (N = 1375). Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the REKT was broken down into four sub-scales: Due to Win, Counterintuitive Nature of random chance, Odds Do Not Improve, and Biases and Wins. The Chance Test was broken down into three sub-scales: abstract Odds, Table Odds, and Chance Odds. These sub-scales were regressed onto of problem gambling severity and revealed that more knowledge about random chance on all sub-scales of the REKT and Abstract Odds from the Chance Test were negatively related to problem gambling. On the other hand, we found that higher score on the Table Odds and Chance Odds from the Chance Test were positively related to problem gambling. The results illustrate that compared to people who do not have a gambling problem, problem gamblers have a more accurate understanding of some aspects of the chances of winning specific games, but have a poorer understanding of various implications of the independence of random events. The findings suggest potential strategies for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the professional agency of student teachers in the initial teacher education context. Based on the ecological model of teacher agency, a questionnaire was developed for a self-reported assessment of student teachers agency in three domains: planning of teaching and learning activities, teaching diverse ability students in the same class, using ICT in teaching. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to validate the structure of the instrument in all domains using data from 168 student teachers. The findings confirmed that student-teacher agency could be described through three dimensions (iterational, projective, and practical-evaluative) in all studied domains. In addition, we found, using path analysis, that agency in two domains predicted student-teacher commitment to teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is concerned with the large-sample parameter estimatorbehavior in applications of Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis in behavioral measurement. The property of strong convergence of the popular Bayesian posterior median estimator is discussed, which states numerical convergence with probability 1 of the resulting estimates to the population parameter value as sample size increases without bound. This property is stronger than the consistency and convergence in distribution of that estimator, which have been commonly referred to in the literature. A numerical example is utilized to illustrate this almost sure convergence of a Bayesian latent correlation estimator. The paper contributes to the body of research on optimal statistical features of Bayesian estimates and concludes with a discussion of the implications of this large-sample property of the Bayesian median estimator for empirical measurement studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the unique role of small farms in providing their own food and nutrition security, the classic three-dimensional approach to sustainability evaluation is not exhaustive. In addition to the socio-economic and environmental dimensions, the question of sustainable development should be extended to the dimension of food and nutrition security. But yet the relations among the different sustainability dimensions at the farm level are not obvious. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to assess the interactions between food and nutrition security and the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in small-scale farms. The study is based on surveys conducted in 2018 on a sample of 710 small-scale farms in Poland. By applying structural equation modeling with simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis, the study found a positive relationship between the socio-economic and food and nutrition security dimensions of sustainability, but there was a lack of synergy between the environmental component and the other dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multinational organizations frequently administer employee surveys online. This process is accompanied, however, by concerns about the psychometric equivalence of measures administered by different modalities. Using data from a large multinational organization (N = 57,861 in Study 1; N = 105,734 in Study 2), the present research examined cross-national generalizability of the measurement equivalence of an organizational attitude survey administered by computer and paper-and-pencil. Results of multiple group confirmatory factor analysis indicated psychometric equivalence of the test modalities in disparate national samples. Implications for the cross-national use of computerized organizational attitude surveys are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic created a strong urgency for the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism and hospitality industry. This paper was set to develop a scale of AI needs in health tourism. A total of 556 valid data were collected, and both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to analyze the data. Six constructs containing 18 items were identified, and the reliability and validity were examined to reach satisfactory levels. The measurement scale developed may serve as a foundation for future research, and shed light on tourism managers, marketers, AI designers and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiential learning is considered important to develop managerial skills. Several archetypes are developed to facilitate learning, and various outcomes of experiential learning have been studied by organizational scholars. In an effort to contribute to the literature about learning, this research pursues (1) to examine the effect of students' learning behaviours on their perception about the quality of learning experience in business education, (2) to examine the mediating role of psychological safety between learning behaviours and students' perception about quality of their learning experience. Based on Kolb's experiential-learning theory and Mezirow's transformational learning theory this research used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 208 students studying in the final semester of their master degree program. Initially, the use of confirmatory factor analysis helped in assessing the validity of the scales in this research context. Later on, hypothesized relationships were tested through structural equation modelling (SEM). Results revealed significant positive impact of critical reflection, student-to-student interactions, and instructor-to-student interactions on students' perceptions about the quality of learning experience. Moreover, psychological safety was found to mediate the relationship between learning behaviours and students' perceptions about quality of learning experience. Practical implications for management educators have also been discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of two nomination scales designed to measure parents' and teachers' perceptions of high academic potential among young children, and how the scores correlate with assessed high potential. Parents and teachers of 243 children (49% girls) taking part in the research project 'Skoleklar' responded to written surveys, and children were evaluated with specially designed assessments on tablet computers. Principal component analyses and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a seven-item solution for the teachers' nomination scale and a four-item solution for the parents' nominations scale that fitted the data well, and that correlated in the expected direction with assessed potential. The teacher scale had stronger correlations with assessed potential than the parent scale. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings of a study conducted in Hong Kong on the value position of the social service providers regarding user participation in service management. Using a survey instrument to collect data from 642 service providers in an elderly service organization, the study explored whether or not the value position had an effect on the views of the service providers on the structural set-up for user participation, and whether the value position of the professional staff was significantly different from that of the non-professional staff. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA), confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied in the analysis. The findings identify that administrative buy-in needed to support shared decision-making with the welfare service users has not been achieved in the studied organization, owing to the absence of value commitment to the user participation cause. As the professional staff was more supportive of values favoring user participation, the paper calls for an acculturation process that would be stimulated and led by professionals to develop a participatory culture. The paper also recommends conducting similar study on a larger scale and qualitative inquiry into factors influencing the formation of values about user participation in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]