A comparison between correspondence analysis and categorical conjoint measurement

We show the equivalence of using correspondence analysis of concatenated tables and a particular algorithm of conjoint analysis named categorical conjoint measurement. The connection is made using canonical correlation. However, although we have proved that equivalence, the standard practice of conjoint analyses to focus in one dimension (the optimal solution) has some shortcomings once we introduce interaction effects. In that case, the use of visual techniques, like correspondence analysis, provides a faster and easier way to compile the preference structure. Finally, we provide an application of our setting making use of an experiment of perfumes where interaction effects between type of essences and strength of essences are shown

A COMPARISON BETWEEN CORRESPONDENCE ANALYSIS AND CATEGORICAL CONJOINT MEASUREMENT

We show the equivalence of using correspondence analysis of concatenated tables and a particular algorithm of conjoint analysis named categorical conjoint measurement. The connection is made using canonical correlation. However, although we have proved that equivalence, the standard practice of conjoint analyses to focus in one dimension (the optimal solution) has some shortcomings once we introduce interaction effects. In that case, the use of visual techniques, like correspondence analysis, provides a faster and easier way to compile the preference structure. Finally, we provide an application of our setting making use of an experiment of perfumes where interaction effects between type of essences and strength of essences are shown.

Assessing brand image through communalitites and asymmetries brand-to-attribute and attribute-to-brand associations.

Brand image is a key component of customer-based brand equity, and refers to the associations a consumer holds in memory. Such associations are often directional; one should distinguish between brand-to-attribute and attribute-to-brand associations. Information on these associations arise from two ways of collecting data respectively: brand-by-brand evaluations of all attributes and attribute-by-attribute evaluations of all brands. In this paper, the authors present a methodological approach, namely correspondence analysis of matched matrices, to assess the communalitites as well as asymmetries between brand-to-attribute and attribute-to-brand associations. The methodology results in perceptual maps visualizing brand image. The approach is illustrated in an empirical market research project in which two samples of consumers evaluated ten brands of deodorants and eleven attributes

Generating Global Brand Equity through Corporate Social Responsibility to Key Stakeholders

In this paper we argue that socially responsible policies have positive short-term and long-term impact on equity of global brands. We find that corporate social responsibility towards all stakeholders, whether primary (customers, shareholders, employees and suppliers) or secondary (community), have positive effects on brand equity value, where the secondary stakeholders are even more important than primary stakeholders. In addition, policies aimed at satisfying community interests act as a mechanism to reinforce trust that gives further credibility to social responsible polices with other stakeholders. The result is a decrease in conflicts among stakeholders and greater stakeholder willingness to provide intangible resources that enhance brand equity. We provide support of our theoretical contentions using a panel data composed of 57 global brands, originating from 10 countries (USA, Japan, South Korea, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands) for the period 2002 to 2007. We use detailed information on brand equity obtained from Interbrand and on corporate social responsibility provided by the Sustainalytics Global Profile (SGB) database, as compiled by Sustainalytics.

Fibromyalgia and therapeutic exercise: Qualitative systematic review

Objetivos: El objetivo de esta revisión es determinar qué ejercicio es más eficaz para reducir la sintomatología de la fibromialgia. Estrategia de búsqueda: Se realizaron búsquedas en las principales bases de datos de las ciencias de la salud: PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane Plus, ISI (Web of Knowledge), y PsycINFO, y en las revistas no indexadas del área, entre marzo y octubre de 2013. Resultados: Se analizó el nivel de evidencia y se aplicaron criterios de exclusión e inclusión para obtener 32 artículos en la revisión, clasificados en 5 categorías en función del tipo de ejercicio. Todos ellos eran ensayos clínicos aleatorios. Conclusiones: El ejercicio terapéutico es eficaz para reducir la sintomatología de la fibromialgia. El ejercicio acuático, el combinado y las actividades alternativas parecen más eficaces para el tratamiento de puntos sensibles, de la depresión, y tiene mayores niveles de adherencia terapéutica. Para el tratamiento del resto de síntomas, todos los tipos de ejercicio tienen similares resultadosObjective: The goal of this review is to determine which exercise is the best to reduce the symptomatology of fibromyalgia. Search Strategy: Intervention studies in fibromyalgia were retrieved through searches in the main health-science databases: PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane Plus, ISI (Web of Knowledge), y PsycINFO, and in in publications of the field, Fisioterapia y Cuestiones de Fisioterapia, between March and October 2013. Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analyze the level of evidence, 32 publications were accepted in this review, classified in 5 different categories, depending on the type of activity. They were all randomized clinical trials. Conclusions: Exercise is effective for reducing symptomatology of fibromyalgia. Aquatic and combined exercise, and alternative activities seem to be more accurate in the treatment of tender points, depression, and they have higher levels of adherence. Relating to the rest of the symptoms, every other type of exercise has similar resul

Ownership structure, costumer satisfaction and brand equity

This paper studies the interaction between ownership structure, taken as a proxy for shareholders’ commitment, and customer satisfaction - the main driver of consumer loyalty - and their impact on a firm’s brand equity. The results show that customer satisfaction has a positive direct effect on brand equity but an indirect negative one because of reductions in ownership concentration. This latter effect emerges when managers are mainly customer-oriented. Such result gives out a warning signal that highlights the perverse effect of implementing policies, focused excessively on satisfying customers at the expense of shareholders, on a firm’s brand equity. The empirical analysis uses an incomplete panel data comprising 69 firms from 11 nations, for the period 2002-2005.The authors wish to thank TRIODOS, Sustainable Investment Research International (SiRi Company), and Analistas Internacionales en Sostenibilidad (AISTM) for their helpful comments and access to the SiRi ProTM database. We also acknowledge the financial support from Comunidad de Madrid (Grant # s-0505/tic/000230) and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Grant #SEC2003-03797, # SEC2003-04770, #SEJ 2004-00672, # SEJ2006-09401 and #SEJ2006-14098). The usual disclaimers apply

Customer satisfaction and brand equity

The study here examines the interaction between shareholder value and customer satisfaction, as well as the impact on a firm's brand equity. Customer satisfaction may have a positive effect on brand equity, except when managers show excessive customer orientation, in which case the effect is negative because of reductions in shareholder value. The empirical analysis uses incomplete panel data pertaining to 69 firms from 11 nations during the period 2002–2005 and supports the theoretical contentions. This result warns of the perverse effect on brand equity of implementing policies focused exclusively on satisfying customers at the expense of shareholders' interests.Publicad

Shoulder pain prevalence in competitive swimmers: A pilot study

Objetivos: conocer la prevalencia de dolor de hombro en nadadores de competición, sus características y su relación con factores antropométricos y deportivos. Métodos: estudio de prevalencia. Ciento cuarenta nadadores/as entre 12 y 24 años cumplimentaron un cuestionario durante una fase de entrenamiento específico. Resultados: el 25,7% revelaron padecer dolor de hombro. Se hallaron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el dolor de hombro y episodios previos de dolor (p<0,001), experiencia superior a tres años (p=0,014), Índice de Masa Corporal (p=0,015) y la especialidad estilo (p=0,008) y distancia (p=0,011). El dolor fue significativamente más intenso durante la actividad que en reposo (p<0,001). Conclusiones: el dolor de hombro en nadadores de competición entre 12 y 24 años parece ser un problema frecuente mayor Índice de Masa Corporal y a la especialidad del nadadorObjectives: to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain in competitive swimmers and find out the characteristics of pain as well as its relation to anthropometric and sports factors. Methods: prevalence study. A hundred and forty competitive swimmers between 12 and 24 years old completed a questionnaire in a high intensity training phase. Results: 25.7% swimmers reported shoulder pain. There were significant statistical correlations between shoulder pain and previous episodes of pain (p<0.001), more than three years of experience (p=0.014), Body Mass Index (p=0.015) and stroke (p=0.008) and distance (p=0.011) specialty. Pain was statistically correlated with activity (p<0.001). Conclusions: shoulder pain seems to be a frequent and repetitive problem in competitive swimmers between 12 and 24 years old, which increases with years of practice. Furthermore, it seems to be associated with the activity, a higher Body Mass Index and the swimmers’ specialty