The effects of clustered data on standard error estimates in covariance structure analysis : a field data application

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this article is to present an empirical analysis of complex sample data with regard to the biasing effect of non-independence of observations on standard error parameter estimates. Using field data structured in the form of repeated measurements it is to be shown, in a two-factor confirmatory factor analysis model, how the bias in SE can be derived when the non-independence is ignored. Design/methodology/approach &ndash; Three estimation procedures are compared: normal asymptotic theory (maximum likelihood); non-parametric standard error estimation (na&iuml;ve bootstrap); and sandwich (robust covariance matrix) estimation (pseudo-maximum likelihood). Findings &ndash; The study reveals that, when using either normal asymptotic theory or non-parametric standard error estimation, the SE bias produced by the non-independence of observations can be noteworthy. Research limitations/implications &ndash; Considering the methodological constraints in employing field data, the three analyses examined must be interpreted independently and as a result taxonomic generalisations are limited. However, the study still provides &ldquo;case study&rdquo; evidence suggesting the existence of the relationship between non-independence of observations and standard error bias estimates. Originality/value &ndash; Given the increasing popularity of structural equation models in the social sciences and in particular in the marketing discipline, the paper provides a theoretical and practical insight into how to treat repeated measures and clustered data in general, adding to previous methodological research. Some conclusions and suggestions for researchers who make use of partial least squares modelling are also drawn.<br /

Structural equation modelling of complex sample survey : an application to brand signalling data

The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical analysis of complex sample data with regard to the biasing effect of nonindependence of observations on standard error parameter estimates. In a two-factor confirmatory factor analysis model, using real data, we show how the bias in standard errors can be derived when the nonindependence is ignored. We demonstrate that the standard error bias produced by the nonindependence of observations can be considerable and we briefly discuss solutions to overcome the problem.<br /

The effect of store name investments on perceived store quality

This study is about store names as brand signals. It focuses on the effects of store name investments on store name credibility and perceived store quality. Using the theoretical framework of Erdem and Swait (1998), hypotheses are developed vis-&agrave;-vis the effects of store name investments on consumers&rsquo; perceived store quality. The proposed hypotheses are empirically tested on data collected from a sample of students. The study is part of a project that looks at how store name and brand name credibility affect consumers&rsquo; expected utility.<br /

Antecedents of brand credibility under asymmetrical information

This study focuses on the antecedents of brand credibility and validates part of the model presented by Erdem and Swait (1998). Following the signalling literature, we argue that under asymmetrical information, the importance of brand credibility stems from the capability of brands to inform consumers who are uncertain about product attributes. Indeed, firms may use brands to notify consumers about product positions and to assure that their product claims are credible. Using information economics as theoretical background, the proposed perspective determines how credibility is shaped. Data was collected across a number of consumers in Australia via a self-report survey and a structural equation model (SEM) was estimated. The results provide empirical evidence and support the work of Erdem and Swait (1998).<br /

Store names information signalling : a credibility perspective

This study is about store names as brand signals. Using the framework of Erdem and Swait (1998), hypotheses are developed regarding the effects of store names on consumers\u27 expected product utility. It is relevant to study store names as brand signals because store names can act as additional signals in the consumer purchase decision process. The study focuses in particular on the effects of store name credibility on perceived risk, information costs and perceived product quality. The hypotheses will be tested on data that are currently being collected in a survey among two hundred students.<br /

Message framing : keeping practitioners in the picture

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to explore how message framing is commonly used by magazine advertisers.Design/methodology/approach &ndash; Following the classification suggested by Levin et al., the frequency and nature of message framing in magazine advertising is explored using a content analysis of 2,864 advertisements in a sample of popular US magazines.Findings &ndash; Results suggest a lack of consistency between marketing practice and academic findings. Contrary to academic recommendations, advertisers used positive framing in almost all advertising messages. Further, the use of attribute framing and combined attribute and goal framing was more popular than pure goal framingResearch limitations/implications &ndash; Although the findings are limited by a judgement sample of US magazines, they do suggest the need for academics to conduct more research on the effectiveness of combined attribute and goal framing techniques.Practical implications &ndash; Of equal importance is the need for practitioners to explore the potentiality of negative framing in their advertising content.Originality/value &ndash; Adopting the Levin et al.\u27s typology, this paper highlights the need for advertising researchers to engage with practitioners to try to understand current industry practice with regard to message framing. The inconsistencies revealed in this paper point to either an insufficient understanding of message framing by one or both parties or the need for better communication between the two. <br /

The impact of survey length, interactivity and participant involvement on intentions and satisfaction across multiple panels

This study examines how survey design characteristics impact on participant satisfaction, future intentions to complete surveys, and intention to recommend the survey to others, based on panel members, extracted from three different panels, who randomly received one out of eight developed surveys, varying length, involvement and interactivity. The experiment was designed for an Australian industry client. The multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA hereafter) results suggest that there are differences based on the panels used, and longer surveys are viewed more positively. Interaction occurs between panels and involvement, but other two way interaction effects are insignificant. Implications for survey design and future research are discussed.<br /

The influence of procedural and interactional justice, and disconfirmation on customers post recovery satisfaction evaluations

This study examines the influence of distributive and interactional justice and disconfirmation on customers&rsquo; postrecovery satisfaction evaluations, and in so doing, combines, for the first time, two existing instruments to operationalise the interactional justice construct. Using Structural Equation Modelling, the findings suggest that while both disconfirmation and justice are important predictors of satisfaction, distributive justice has the greatest influence. The research presented here reports on a section of a larger experiment-based study examining how customers&rsquo; postrecovery satisfaction evaluations are influenced by the way in which the organisation responds to the failure.<br /

NFC, moral position, socialisation and ethical decision-making

Absolutism (deontology and teleology), moral relativism (individual moral position), and individual and environmental factors are at the crossroads of descriptive ethics research. For several decades, researchers have espoused teleological aspects, such as the punitive influence of codes of ethics, as managerial tools that enhance ethical conduct in organisations. The current study modelled the individual factors of need-for-cognition (NFC), individual moral position, and occupational socialisation as influences on the work-norms of marketers. The findings from a survey of marketers suggest that NFC influences the ethical idealism, professional socialisation, and work-norms of marketers positively. The research identifies that encouraging cognitive activities among marketers may be a useful alternative when developing appropriate deontological work-norms and decision-making under ethical conditions in marketing.<br /