Дисертації: "Structural equation modelling"

1

Yoo, Keunyoung. "Probabilistic SEM : an augmentation to classical Structural equation modelling." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/66521.

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Structural equation modelling (SEM) is carried out with the aim of testing hypotheses on the model of the researcher in a quantitative way, using the sampled data. Although SEM has developed in many aspects over the past few decades, there are still numerous advances which can make SEM an even more powerful technique. We propose representing the nal theoretical SEM by a Bayesian Network (BN), which we would like to call a Probabilistic Structural Equation Model (PSEM). With the PSEM, we can take things a step further and conduct inference by explicitly entering evidence into the network and performing di erent types of inferences. Because the direction of the inference is not an issue, various scenarios can be simulated using the BN. The augmentation of SEM with BN provides signi cant contributions to the eld. Firstly, structural learning can mine data for additional causal information which is not necessarily clear when hypothesising causality from theory. Secondly, the inference ability of the BN provides not only insight as mentioned before, but acts as an interactive tool as the `what-if' analysis is dynamic. Mini Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2018. Statistics MCom Unrestricted

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McKenzie, Kirsten. "Exploring first year academic success through structural equation modelling." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2002. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/36788/2/36788_Digitised%20Thesis.pdf.

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3

Vargas, Sepúlveda Mauricio. "Structural equation modelling application : profiling and analyzing students' university scores." Tesis, Universidad de Chile, 2015. http://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/135274.

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Seminario para optar al grado de Ingeniero Comercial, Mención Administración This work analyses chilean university students performance in different courses. These students belong to different major programs imparted at Universidad de Chile: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics and Information Systems. The analyzed courses are those they share under the same course syllabus and examination and also they are mixed together without distinction of their respective programs in those courses. The provided dataset for this work considers the period 2002-2013. The cornerstone of this study is to determine if the course performance can be analyzed under a satisfactory factorial structure. For this purpose I used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) which is a part of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Cronbach’s Alpha and Vuong Test are used for cross validation and to choose the best model from data. This work uses advanced statistical tools and Psychometric Theory developments are considered as theoretical pillars of this study. Altogether with this pdf file, the interested reader may find the datasets and both the LATEX and R files I’ve created during this work in the next URL: http://github.com/pachamaltese/thesis. My github repo includes all the diagrams and the thesis template that I’ve designed according to my university’s rules.

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Hassan, Louise May. "Hierarchical stepwise structural equation modelling : a methodological contribution for combining theories." Thesis, Glasgow Caledonian University, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.404635.

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5

Tseng, Wen-Ta. "Motivation, self-regulation and vocabulary acquisition : a structural equation modelling analysis." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.430477.

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6

Caldarola, Bernardo. "Poverty traps in Southern rural Mozambique : a structural equation modelling approach." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/12861.

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Mestrado em Desenvolvimento e Cooperação Internacional Este trabalho visa analisar o contexto de economia rural em três distritos da região Sul de Mozambique, para demonstrar a existência de mecanismos "aprisionadores" que detêm as famílias camponesas numa condição de pobreza. Todas as variáveis tomadas em conta para o estudo resultam de uma base de dados autoproduzida que inclui informação sobre a subsistência no contexto rural e o sector agrícola. Este trabalho utiliza a abordagem dos modelos de equações estruturais (SEM) para detectar as possíveis não-linearidades no processo de criação de riqueza, em particular a través da análise da saúde, do contexto institucional e de mercado, e da segurança alimentar em relação à riqueza das famílias. Recorrendo aos conceitos de complexidade, multidimensionalidade e causação cumulativa, procura-se demonstrar a existência de uma "armadilha da pobreza" a partir da análise das diversas dinâmicas relacionadas com a relação que existe entre segurança alimentar e bem-estar das famílias inquiridas. A metodologia adotada neste trabalho constitui uma alternativa aos testes tradicionalmente utilizados na investigação sobre as armadilhas da pobreza, pois inclui um numero maior de factores na analise da pobreza persistente. Em conclusão, os resultados da estimação do modelo fornecem algumas recomendações em termos de politicas de combate contra a pobreza, de acordo com as características especificas da zona. This article analyses the rural economy of three districts in southern Mozambique, proving the existence of a lock-in device that keeps small-scale farmers and their households into poverty. All variables taken into account result from an original survey-based dataset which includes socio-economic information about rural livelihoods and the agricultural sector. A Structural Equation Modelling approach is adopted to detect non-linearity in wealth creation - in particular by analysing health, market/institutional environment and food security in relation to an asset-based measure of wealth. Drawing upon the concepts of complexity, multidimensionality and cumulative causation, this work proves the existence of a poverty trap by analysing the varying dynamics related to the relationship that exists between food security and wealth. The methodology adopted in this work represents an alternative to the traditional tests usually applied for the detection of poverty traps, including a wider number of factors in the study of persistent poverty; finally, it provides some useful policy recommendations regarding the struggle against poverty in this area. N/A

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Cunliffe, Jack. "Offending risk factors and area : an investigation using structural equation modelling." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2015. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3257/.

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This thesis has two main aims. The first is substantive: to investigate whether and how an individual’s perceptions of their area act as risk factors for offending. The second is methodological: to demonstrate that theoretically-informed structural equation modelling can make best use of existing and often under-utilised datasets, particularly cross-national studies such as those typically conducted by large-scale organisations or governments. Using the United Kingdom Offending, Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) conducted between 2003 and 2006, and taking a range of questions on individual perceptions, family circumstance, self-reported offending and variables relating to the area in which the respondent lives, the work reviews previous criminological measurement constructs of well-known risk factors (from both an analytical and theoretical perspective) and once these are defined moves on to examine self-report offending using structural equation modelling. Findings are predominantly consistent with previous work and show that individual criminogenic propensities matter most, but also that a complex interrelationship of area perceptions operate in conflicting directions. Once this is accounted for, living in an area with higher disorder seems to increase self-report offending, with part of the relationship explained by perceptions of lower collective efficacy. However, this relationship seems to operate only at one time point and when looking longitudinally it appears that it is the family situation that takes precedence. This leads in turn to mixed policy implications. In the short-term, it appears that interventions to address perception of area would be most successful to combat offending behaviour but over the longer term addressing the family situation would be more appropriate. Implications for data collection processes and analytical approaches to existing data are centred on the simple analytical framework that pays equal attention to the set of questions: 1) What can be measured? 2) Can these measures be structured? 3) What are the results?

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Neoh, Jun. "Application of meta-analysis, multidimensional scaling, structural equation modelling, and multilevel modelling in analysing carpooling behaviour." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2016. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/395306/.

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9

Alzahrani, Ahmed Ibrahim. "Web-based e-government services acceptance for G2C : a structural equation modelling approach." Thesis, De Montfort University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/5181.

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E-Government is the use of information technology particularly web applications to deliver convenient services for citizens, business and government. Governments worldwide spend billions of their budgets in order to deliver convenient electronic services to their citizens. There are two important points; government offers online services, and citizens consume these services. In order to maximize the benefits of these projects and to avoid possible failures, the gap between these points should be addressed. Yet there are few empirical studies that have covered the relevant issues of adoption from the citizen perspective in developing countries. This research study investigates citizens’ acceptance of e-government services in the context of Saudi Arabia. It posits an integrated model of the key elements that influence citizens’ adoption of e-government. The framework includes a combination of attitudinal, social, control and trust factors as well as the influence of gender. The model is validated by surveying 533 citizens and utilising the structural equation modeling technique for data analysis. Findings show that both measurement and structural models exhibit good model fit to data. The study shows that all constructs satisfy the criteria of constructs reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. The paths estimations show that of the sixteen designed casual relationships, eleven paths relationships were found to be significant while the other five paths remained unsupported.

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Nuthethi, Rishita Optometry &amp Vision Science Faculty of Science UNSW. "Structural equation modelling and its application to quality of life of visually impaired people." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Optometry & Vision Science, 2008. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/44537.

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The main objective of the thesis was to construct a model of r:lationships among perceived visual ability (VF), quality of life (QOL) and visual acuity (VA) using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique in an older, visually impaired population of India. The World Health Organization QOL questionnaire, adopted as a QOL questionnaire, and a 16-item visual function questionnaire (VFQ) were administered to adults in the population-based Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study prior to their detailed eye examination. Participants aged 40 years and older (n=3,702), who underwent an interview by trained professionals, were included in this study. A total of 1,333 visually impaired subjects (presenting VA < 6/18) responded to both questionnaires. The VFQ and QOL questionnaires were evaluated using Rasch analysis. The general linear model analysis (GLM) was performed to identify the factors associated with the measures of perceived visual ability and QOL. The direct and indirect relationships between VA, perceived visual ability and QOL were established using the SEM after adjusting for socio-demographic factors identified to be significant in GLM. The mean age of the visually impaired participants was 60.5 years; 753 (56%) were female. There were 760 visually impaired people with cataract in at least one eye, 524 with uncorrected refractive error, 84 with retinal disease, 41 with glaucoma and 60 with corneal disease. The VFQ and QOL measures were found to be valid and unidimensional for those with retinal disease, glaucoma, corneal disease and those who are blind due to cataract or any other cause. In QOL questionnaire the item that required the most ability was "chance to acquire new skills" and the item that required the least ability was "dressing" for the sample with retinal disease, glaucoma, corneal disease and cataract. In the VFQ, the items that required the most visual ability were "recognizing small objects" and "recognizing people across the street". The items that required least visual ability were "reaching an object that is farther or closer than you thought" and "identifying colors". Perceived visual ability to perform the functional vision activities mediated the relationship between VA and QOL, a new diagram for the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), however, the percentage of change mediated through perceived functional ability varied for different eye diseases. The total change that was mediated through perceived functional ability was 100%, 100%, 52%, 52% and 63% for people with retinal disease, glaucoma, corneal disease and those who are blind due to cataract or any cause of disease, respectively. Decreased QOL and perceived visual ability was associated with the presence of glaucoma or corneal disease independent of VA and with cataract and retinal disease as a function of VA. Perceived visual ability to perfol111 the functional vision activities mediates the relationship between VA and QOL. Improving the perceived visual ability would improve the QOL of low vision persons. Further longitudinal studies on the impact of therapy and rehabilitation for glaucoma, corneal disease and retinal disease on QOL and VF are needed.

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11

Khan, Shaila. "Alcohol abuse and its relationship with poverty and unemployment, a structural equation modelling approach." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq23617.pdf.

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12

Park, Kyungok. "Crystallising commitment through structural equation modelling : the case of manufacturing teams in South Korea." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2013. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/4324/.

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The use of teams in organisations has become widespread, and research on teams has been extensive. However, in comparison with measures of organisational level variables there has been comparatively little research on team members’ attitudes and behaviour. This study examines team members’ commitment to their team and to their organisation using data from two transport-related companies in the small- and mediumsized category in South Korea (N=358). Drawing on social exchange theory and the cognition-attitude-behaviour mechanism, the thesis proposes a multiple mediation model that suggests team commitment and organisational commitment mediate the relationship between psychological empowerment and organisational citizenship behaviour. Prior to examining the proposed theoretical model, the thesis looks at the applicability of Allen and Myer’s (1990) organisational commitment scale and the distinctiveness of team commitment from organisational commitment. Parsimonious validity testing suggests that the normative organisational commitment scale is not applicable, and a three-factor model of organisational commitment works better in a South Korean context. Analysis of structural equation models using LISREL supports the two commitments’ multiple mediation role, demonstrating that both team commitment and organisational commitment positively and independently mediate the relationships between psychological empowerment and organisational citizenship behaviour. Further, results present the negative interaction effects of the two commitment forms on organisational citizenship behaviours.

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13

Kurdi, Heba. "The impact of visitors satisfaction in explaining expenditure behaviour : A structural equation modelling approach." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Nationalekonomi, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-30030.

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Visitor expenditure can be affected by different economic, socio-demographic and psychological variables. Previous literature have focused on the use of observed tourists and destination characteristics as explanatory variables to explain visitor expenditure, whereas the use of psychological factors has been underresearched. The present study aims to fill in the gap in the existing literature through the exploration of more extensive use of psychological variables. This is accomplished by the use of structural equation modelling (SEM), a methodological approach which seems not to have been applied before in tourism expenditure econometric models. In econometrics expenditure research, Mortazavi (2018) found satisfaction to be an endogenous regressor of expenditure. Hence, the contribution of our model is that it allows for the relationship between visitor satisfaction and visitor expenditure, and vice versa, to be tested simultaneously. Consequently, under this context we may identify the magnitude of one variable impact on another while at the same time accounting for simultaneous relationship between the two paths. The findings of this study go in hand with previous literature and economic theory which have found a positive relationship between visitor satisfaction and visitor expenditure.

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Cois, Annibale. "Analysing the socioeconomic determinants of hypertension in South Africa: A structural equation modelling approach." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12350.

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Includes bibliographical references. Epidemiological research has long since observed that the prevalence of hypertension varies across populations' socioeconomic strata. Higher socioeconomic status (SES) has been consistently associated with lower levels of blood pressure in most studies from Europe and North America, while research in low- and middle-income countries at an earlier stage of the epidemiological transition revealed mixed patterns. The causal mechanisms underlying these varying relationships are largely unknown. Only in recent years the pathways through which SES impacts the cardiovascular system have been explored in large-scale studies, with results suggesting that body mass index, heart rate, and to a lesser extent physical exercise, alcohol use and smoking, may play a role in mediating these associations. However, these results refer to high-income countries, while similar research in low- and middle-income countries, and sub-Saharan Africa in particular, is lacking. In 2008, the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) collected a broad range of information on a representative sample of the population of South Africa, a medium-income country undergoing rapid epidemiological transition. Among other topics, information was gathered on blood pressure, biologic and behavioural risk factors, education, income and other indicators of socioeconomic position.

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Egan, Clive K. "The influence of overseas exposure on the negotiation styles of Chinese private equity professionals." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/15900.

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Many cultural and social psychological studies have been conducted at the societal level and at the individual level and generalised for all members in that society. This ignores the fact that there are many distinctive subgroups with their own subgroup cultures within a society. These subgroup cultures also have an influence on individuals, and need to be explored at an individual level. A survey in both English and Chinese was posted to 1,869 Chinese private equity professionals in the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong and resulted in 376 responses. The survey measured the core values and beliefs of individualism, collectivism, power distance, social axioms, Machiavellianism, Confucianism, and preferred negotiation style for those who have had overseas exposure in Anglo-Saxon countries and those who have not. The theories employed in the study were institutional theory, the resource-based view, and social psychological theories. A partial least squares structural equation model was used to determine relationships. Significant differences between Chinese private equity professionals who have worked or studied in Anglo-Saxon countries and those who had not were found for individualism, vertical collectivism, Machiavellian control and status, three aspects of Confucianism, and also the controlling negotiation style. The model devised can be adapted for other societal subgroups to measure, not just preferred negotiation styles, but other important organizational relationship-dependent factors such as leadership style, decision-making, and trust. The model can be employed to further understand many types of organisations and industries anywhere in the world.

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Booth, Thomas. "A review of the structure of normal range personality." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2012. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-review-of-the-structure-of-normal-range-personality(5ed8da05-4af3-43f4-952c-38edd8c89596).html.

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The current thesis presents five studies which consider the structure of normal range human personality as measured by psychometric inventories. The primary aim of the thesis was to develop a hierarchical model of the structure of human personality, which not only encapsulated the content of extant personality inventories, but extended the extant models to better represent the accumulated knowledge in the field of personality research. To do so, the thesis reports on the largest item level exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic investigation of the structure of personality to date. In Study 1, the utility of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the investigation of personality structure was established by conducting dimensionality, structural and invariance analysis of the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, Version 5, using the US Standardization sample. The results clearly demonstrated that confirmatory models of personality inventories can display model fit, and that structures can be identified which are invariant across samples. In Study 2, 1,772 items from the Eugene-Springfield community sample were used to locate 78 unidimensional narrow personality facets, which were both substantively consistent and displayed strong psychometric properties. These 78 facets were then used to identify a second order 11 factor global structure to human personality, the 11+ Model. The 11+ Model was robust over different rotational criteria, and displayed excellent theoretical coverage of the personality sphere. However, confirmatory factor analyses of the 11 factor solution failed to demonstrate model fit. As a result, three further studies were conducted to explore the possible reasons for model misfit. In Study 3, the model fit of the new exploratory 11 factor solution was considered against model fit for extant structures and inventories. The results showed that across modelling strategy, the fit of newly identified structure was comparable to the extant inventories. In Study 4, the claim the model misfit is caused by the inherent complexity in personality was considered through an application of exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM). ESEM has been argued to more adequately represent such complexity. Results suggested that the ESEM framework fails to offer additional information to help resolve the substantive problems in personality research. Finally, in Study 5, the sample size required to reliably estimate single factor confirmatory models, and second order structural models, was investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. The results suggest that samples of over 2000 are required to reliably estimate second order structural parameters in confirmatory factor analytic models. This finding suggests the samples used in much published research to investigate confirmatory structural models of personality inventories may be deficient.

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Barker, Jane Elizabeth. "An examination of the long-term effects of sexual assault using linear structural equation modelling." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq20550.pdf.

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18

Krabuanrat, Tanasak. "Electronic communication and manager's media choice : a structural equation modelling from rational and social perspectives." Thesis, City University London, 2000. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/7586/.

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This exploratory study examines the communication media choice of managers. Despite a substantial body of theories on media choice, inadequacies are apparent in the literature particularly in relation to modem communication technologies. A field study approach was adopted to explore some of these inadequacies and to study the media choice of subject from a manager background. Overall, within the limitations and confines of this exploratory study, this thesis has made the following contributions. First, this thesis identifies and has demonstrate at the unduly narrow focus on task equivocality in prior media choice studies has undermined the study's ability to explain the observed media choice. There is a need to consider the full range of task characteristics in explaining the communication media choice process. Second, Information Richness Theory( IRT) has enjoyed acceptance information systems researchers throughout the last decade,b ut recent unfavourable empirical evidence has precipitated a shift away from it and a search for a new theory. The application of social interaction theories responded to the problem of media richness/social presence by postulating that media selection, like most tasks in organisations, is influenced by a combination of social forces. This means that , while the media richness/social presence scale matching tasks with media would apply in most cases, it is perfectly predictable that some groups or individuals will define either tasks or media traits differently, thus explaining the problems with media richness/social presence theories. Third, drawing together ideas in the literature a broad overview of the media choice process is developed into a comprehensive framework model. A novel aspect of this framework is, to find whether Information richness and Social interaction theories directly influence media choice; or the Social interaction theories influence media choice indirectly through the Information richness theory.

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Edwards, Julian Alwyn. "Stress and well-being in the workplace : a longitudinal cross-lagged structural equation modelling investigation." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2004. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13405/.

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The current research expands upon previous knowledge by further investigating the causal relationship between self-ratings of occupational stress, psychological well-being, personal control and work performance. The work has also been designed to address the methodological pitfalls and deficiencies apparent in longitudinal research by incorporating the methodological and statistical rigor of structural equation modeling (SEM). A review of the occupational health literature indicates a broad range of inconsistencies regarding the causal pathways between variables. Based upon these inconsistencies, the aims of this research are to address three main hypotheses: the relationship between stress and wellbeing (H1), the relationship between stress, control and well-being (H2) and the association between stress, work performance and well-being (H3). All three hypotheses measure variables across work, non-work and context-free domains. Three samples of data were incorporated within the study in order to cross-validate findings. SEM techniques were conducted to analyse data to examine the intricate one-way, reverse and reciprocal relationship between variables. In relation to H1, results support a best fitting reciprocal cross-lagged model where both sources of stress and psychological well-being simultaneously influence one another across work, non-work and context-free life domains. A good fitting reciprocal cross-lagged model revealing that sources of stress and control across domains simultaneously effect each other was also produced in regards to H2. In relation to H3, again findings support a best fitting reciprocal cross-lagged model where both sources of work/non-work stress and work performance simultaneously effect one another. Overall the results theoretically build upon previous work conducted by further emphasising the complex causal relationship between organizational health factors including one-way, reverse and reciprocal associations. This research suggests that stress and well-being models should not be designed in the future without considering the strong causal influence of factors outside of work. This study also addresses all seven longitudinal methodological and statistical recommendations put forward by Zapf, Dormann & Frese (1996). The practical implications of the current study and recommendations for future research are also put forward.

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Wilson, Patricia. "Social self-concept in preadolescent children at school: An investigation of its structure using a structural equation modelling approach." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/10003.

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This study investigated the structure of social self-concept in preadolescent children at school. Subjects were 227 male and female grade three students from eight schools in a metropolitan area. A multidimensional, hierarchical model of social self-concept was proposed and tested using confirmatory factor analytic procedures within the framework of the analysis of covariance structures. The hypothesized model was based upon the theoretical model of self-concept first proposed by Shavelson, Hubner, and Stanton (1976). Subjects were given two self-report instruments designed to measure self-concept in the areas of social relations with classmates, other children at school, and teachers. Additionally, a teacher rating scale and a peer sociometric instrument were used as measures of the child's actual social behaviour. Data were collected at two time points, in the fall and the spring of the same academic year. The hypothesized and counterhypothesized models provided a poor fit to the data. Analyses then continued in an exploratory mode. Of all models tested, the best-fitting model of social self-concept was found to be a four-factor model with general self-concept as the first factor, self-concept of popularity as the second factor, social self-concept in general and in regard to school and classmates as the third factor, and social self-concept in regard to teachers as the fourth factor. Because the facets of social self-concept were found to be less differentiated than hypothesized it was not possible to investigate the proposed hierarchical structure of the construct. Partial support was found for the hypothesis that social self-concept can be differentiated from social behaviour as measured by peers and teachers. Social behaviour with teachers, in particular, was found to be very different from self-reports of social behaviour. Social behaviour with peers and self-reports of social behaviour with peers were found to be associated moderately, indicating that self and other ratings were referring to the same, or similar, behaviours, but each from their own unique perspective. Analysis of the second time point data did not support the stability of social self-concept over a six month period, indicating the necessity of replicating these results before conclusions can be more than tentative. This study presented an important possible revision to the Shavelson et al. (1976) model of self-concept. The study demonstrated the salience of popularity in the child's conception of his or her own social relations. It demonstrated, further, that the child's perspective regarding social relations differs from that of peers or of teachers.

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Howieson, William B. "A quantative evaluation of the reformulated 1996 path-goal theory of work unit leadership via structural equation modelling." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/2604.

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In 1996, Professor Robert J House published a reformulated Path-Goal Theory of Work Unit Leadership, based on his earlier 1971 and 1974 theories. Path-goal leadership attempts to explain the impact that leader behaviour has on subordinate motivation, satisfaction and performance. The aim of this context-specific study is to evaluate this reformulated ‘1996 Theory’ via Structural Equation Modelling with engineers from the Royal Air Force as the primary data source. This thesis offers a revised methodology to test path-goal leadership. In detail, three moderator variables are modelled with four independent variables to establish association with two dependent variables. In addition, five propositions from the ‘1996 Theory’ are examined. The analysis suggests that: the moderator influences preference for a particular type of leadership behaviour (by the subordinate); leader behaviour has an impact on subordinate satisfaction; leader behaviour affects satisfaction directly and performance indirectly; subordinate satisfaction has a direct affect on subordinate performance; and performance is influenced by the type of task demand. It is considered that there is association between the variables; however, the direction of this association is not known and it is difficult to predict accurately. Without further research, which is replicated and revalidated with other cohorts, causality in the leader behaviour — outcome variable paradigm cannot be argued. Due to time constraints, the research has several limitations. Not all propositions cited in the ‘1996 Theory’ are tested and several other variables are not examined. Finally, recommendations are made for future study, particularly replication with other cohorts in the public, private and third sectors to ensure validity. This will help in determining causality with leader behaviour and motivation, satisfaction and performance.

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22

Wang, Yunyu. "The interaction of context and demography in equity effects of congestion pricing." Thesis, KTH, Trafik och logistik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-152338.

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The equity effect of congestion pricing has been advocated to be given enough concern for its acceptability. This thesis aimed to explore the mixed effects in travel behaviour changing caused by congestion charging in demography factors (social economic status) and context factors (location, flexibility, access to car and possession of long-term public transport card). In order to understand by what mechanisms congestion pricing affects the equity, structural equation modelling was applied to model the causal networks in the case study of Stockholm congestion charge. Results revealed a more complicated influence from different combination of factors. The location relative to charging cordon mattered for the trip-making both directly and indirectly through the transport mode preference. The work schedule flexibility should be also taken into consideration when considering the time-based scheme. The mixed effects between two groups of factors suggested that more factors should be considered when justifying the privileged group and disadvantaged group to implement the policy. The method used in this thesis could be very constructive for equity effect evaluation in other cities with different conditions.

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O'Loughlin, Christina. "Evaluation of measurement quality in the assessment of health related issues using structural equation modelling techniques." Thesis, University of Ulster, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.342424.

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Acosta, Mesa Héctor Gabriel. "Functional anatomy of stereoscopic visual process assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging and structural equation modelling." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2003. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/14748/.

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The purpose of this thesis is to study the functional anatomy of stereoscopic vision. Although many studies have investigated the physiological mechanisms by which the brain transforms the retinal disparities into three-dimensional representations, the invasive nature of the techniques available have restricted them to studies in non-human primates, whilst the research on humans has been limited to psychophysical studies. Modem non-invasive neuroimaging techniques now allow the investigation of the functional organisation of the human brain. Although PET and fMRI studies have been widely used, few researchers have explored the functional anatomy of stereoscopic vision. Most of these studies appear to be pilot work, showing inconsistency, not only in the areas sensitive to stereo disparities, but also in the specific role that each of these possesses in the perception of depth. In order to investigate the cortical regions involved in stereoscopic vision, four fMRI studies were performed using anaglyph random dot stereo grams. Our results suggest that the stereo disparity processing is widespread over a network of cortical regions which include VI, V3A, V3B and B7. Functionally, the V3A region seems to be the main processing centre of pure stereo disparities and the V3B region to be engaged in motion defined purely by spatio-temporal changes of local horizontal disparities (stereoscopic -cyclopean- motion). Interregional connectivity was investigated with two approaches. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), as the classical technique for the analysis of effective connectivity, was used to assess one connectivity model proposed to· explain the cortical interaction observed in the first experiment. The implementation and application of this technique permitted us to identify some of its weaknesses in representing fMRI data. An extension of the SEM technique was introduced as a Non-linear Auto-Regressive Moving Average with eXogenous variables (NARMAX) approach. This can be thought of as an attempt to bring SEM towards a non-linear dynamic system modelling technique which permits a more appropriate representation of effective connectivity models using fMRI time series.

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25

Ismail, Sharinar. "Students' attitude to educational loan repayments : a structural modelling approach." Thesis, Brunel University, 2011. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8712.

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Educational loan defaulting is a problem increasing on a worldwide scale. In Malaysia, the default rate is almost 50% in the case of loans advanced to students in higher education. With this in mind, for the first time, this study analyses this chronic problem in-depth with consideration to primary data collected from a cross-section of students currently studying in public universities in Malaysia. With help from the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the empirical analysis establishes that loan defaults are influenced by a complex interaction of personal-, social- and psychology-related variables: students’ attitude, intention to repay loan, parental influence, perceptions that loan repayment will affect quality of life after graduation, perceptions towards loan agreement, and an awareness of loan repayment issues created by the media. This study succeeds in disentangling the precise impact of such variables in regard to loan defaults. The findings are of great relevance to government-funding agencies, which can better plan the loan advancement and recovery process once they understand the true reasons behind defaults. The novel method utilised for the first time with the objective to study the default issue should also be useful to academic researchers seeking to conduct similar studies in the context of other countries. This study should also assist policy makers in planning long-term strategies in terms of assessing, designing and evaluating new loan schemes. Developing countries, such as Malaysia, face competing demands on their limited financial resources. An increase in the recovery rate will bring in funds that can be lent to additional students or used for strengthening educational infrastructure. These measures add useful value to the social and economic set-up of the country.

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26

Klingler, Katharina [Verfasser], and Florian [Akademischer Betreuer] Heiß. "Structural Equation Modelling with Latent Variables - Evidence from a Monte Carlo Study / Katharina Klingler. Gutachter: Florian Heiß." Düsseldorf : Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 2015. http://d-nb.info/1073642070/34.

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27

Mohd, Jamil J. B. "Partial least squares structural equation modelling with incomplete data : an investigation of the impact of imputation methods." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5728.

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Despite considerable advances in missing data imputation methods over the last three decades, the problem of missing data remains largely unsolved. Many techniques have emerged in the literature as candidate solutions. These techniques can be categorised into two classes: statistical methods of data imputation and computational intelligence methods of data imputation. Due to the longstanding use of statistical methods in handling missing data problems, it takes quite some time for computational intelligence methods to gain profound attention even though these methods have analogous accuracy, in comparison to other approaches. The merits of both these classes have been discussed at length in the literature, but only limited studies make significant comparison to these classes. This thesis contributes to knowledge by firstly, conducting a comprehensive comparison of standard statistical methods of data imputation, namely, mean substitution (MS), regression imputation (RI), expectation maximization (EM), tree imputation (TI) and multiple imputation (MI) on missing completely at random (MCAR) data sets. Secondly, this study also compares the efficacy of these methods with a computational intelligence method of data imputation, ii namely, a neural network (NN) on missing not at random (MNAR) data sets. The significance difference in performance of the methods is presented. Thirdly, a novel procedure for handling missing data is presented. A hybrid combination of each of these statistical methods with a NN, known here as the post-processing procedure, was adopted to approximate MNAR data sets. Simulation studies for each of these imputation approaches have been conducted to assess the impact of missing values on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on the estimated accuracy of both structural and measurement parameters. The best method to deal with particular missing data mechanisms is highly recognized. Several significant insights were deduced from the simulation results. It was figured that for the problem of MCAR by using statistical methods of data imputation, MI performs better than the other methods for all percentages of missing data. Another unique contribution is found when comparing the results before and after the NN post-processing procedure. This improvement in accuracy may be resulted from the neural network's ability to derive meaning from the imputed data set found by the statistical methods. Based on these results, the NN post-processing procedure is capable to assist MS in producing significant improvement in accuracy of the approximated values. This is a promising result, as MS is the weakest method in this study. This evidence is also informative as MS is often used as the default method available to users of PLS-SEM software.

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28

Smart, Martha. "The application of the theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling in tax compliance behaviour: a New Zealand study." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Accounting and Information Systems, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/7528.

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The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has received considerable attention in the behavioural literature, but not in the tax compliance domain. The key purpose of this study is to determine the influence of selected tax compliance variables on tax compliance behaviour. The secondary objectives are to explore the applicability of the TPB in predicting and explaining tax compliance behaviour, and to provide justification for the application of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) employing the Partial Least Squares (PLS) statistical software or PLS-Graph (which has not been widely used in tax compliance research). The results provide evidence supporting the use of PLS-Graph in undertaking SEM analysis in tax compliance research, especially when smaller samples are involved and the data collected may not be normally distributed. This study also demonstrated the wide applicability of the TPB, including its application in tax compliance research. This study modified and extended the standard TPB behavioural model with the inclusion of a number of economic and noneconomic constructs. Most of the constructs used for this study are grounded in a number of theories: Deterrence Theory; Procedural Justice Theory; and Motivational Posturing Theory; in addition to the TPB. Data to test the research hypotheses was collected using a mail and a web-based survey. The results of this study suggest that noneconomic variables, such as beliefs and attitudes, are good predictors of tax compliance behaviour. Consistent with the majority of studies, the most influential factor in predicting and explaining tax compliance behaviour (through the mediating effects of behavioural intention) is attitude towards the behaviour. Other factors such as personal, social and societal norms were also significant predictors of tax compliance behaviour. Perceived behavioural control was only significant for the taxpayers but not for the tax agents. In contrast, perception of the tax authority was significant for New Zealand tax agents, but not for taxpayers. The results also suggest that tax compliance behaviour is complex, and different determinants of compliance behaviour affects different sub-groups of taxpayers differently. The results lend further support to the literature that indicates that taxpayers are not a homogeneous group. This study also found that taxpayers and tax agents generally perceive tax noncompliance as less serious relative to a number of other similar civil offences. This perception may explain why respondents (from both sample groups) who were penalised for noncompliance felt that the penalties imposed were harsh, unfair and excessive. Overall, the current study illustrates the importance of incorporating noneconomic variables comprising beliefs, attitudes, and norms, with widely used economic variables such as penalties and other enforcement tools, for achieving an optimal compliance strategy.

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29

Claffey, Austin M. "Metamemory in multiple sclerosis." Thesis, Brunel University, 2010. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/4513.

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The concept of metamemory proposes that supplementary to typically measured memory abilities, memory monitoring and control processes are used to optimise learning. Accurate memory monitoring appears to be underpinned by a range of cognitive, and possibly affective, contributions. In populations with these deficits, metamemory has been shown to be impaired. In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), only a limited metamemory literature exists, surprising given that MS is a leading cause of disability among people of working age, and cognitive and mood disorder is common. Using structural equation modelling, this study of 100 people with MS explored factors contributing to performance on episodic Judgment of Learning, Retrospective Confidence and Feeling of Knowing. Given its negative influence on cognitive domains in MS, the impact of information processing deficits on metamemory was also investigated. Finally, memory self-report, a frequently used clinical indicator of memory functioning, was assessed. Findings suggest that memory complaint is associated with mood, and is unrelated to tested memory. Second, Retrospective Confidence Judgments were predictive of memory performance, even in the presence of memory impairment. Third, an unusual finding of maintained underconfidence at delay was observed in the Judgment of Learning task. Finally, Feeling of Knowing judgments related to executive, but not to memory ability. A novel finding in respect of this judgment was of processing speed relating negatively to accuracy, in the context of executive dysfunction. This suggests that some top-down direction of processing resources may be a factor in supporting accuracy, rather than the speed at which information is processed. Of all the task-based judgments, accuracy in this judgment was the only one with a reliable association with mood. Faster processing speed, executive dysfunction and least depression symptomatology related to low accuracy, perhaps typifying a profile of disinhibition seen in MS, characterised by poorly constrained processing and apparently elevated mood.

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Moufty, Souad S. "Sustainability practices and their effect on performance in the banking sector : a stakeholder approach." Thesis, Brunel University, 2017. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/13860.

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Sustainability has gained considerable interest from businesses, academics and in the press in the last two decades. However, the existing sustainability literature says little about what banks gain from moving towards sustainable development. Studies on the relationship between sustainability practices and performance in banks are extremely scarce and have produced inconclusive results. This thesis has two major purposes: to investigate the current sustainability practices in the banking sector and to examine the relationship between sustainability and performance in the banking sector. To achieve this, a sustainability model has been developed for the banking sector taking stakeholders’ effects into consideration. Content analysis was employed to collect the necessary data on stakeholder engagement, communication efforts to stakeholders, strategy and sustainability information. Performance data were obtained from the Bankscope database and 483 bank reports for EU & USA banks over the period 2006-2012 were examined. The data were first analysed using descriptive statistics. The main analysis involved bivariate tests and structural equation modelling path analysis. The results indicate that European banks pay more attention and communicate significantly more with different stakeholder groups than American banks. Banks responded to different degrees to stakeholder issues in their sustainability reports. Moreover, the results show that EU banks carry out more sustainability practices than USA banks. The results also show positive relationships between stakeholders’ salience and all aspects of sustainability; stakeholders’ communications and the environmental aspects of sustainability; size and all sustainability aspects except product sociology. The effect of stakeholder salience on sustainability is more significant in European banks pursuing a sustainability strategy while the effects of communications on sustainability are more significant in American banks with a non-sustainability strategy. Size affects sustainability more in banks with a non-sustainability strategy, but no differences were found for the effect of size on sustainability between the two regions. Furthermore, the results show that the environmental aspects of sustainability are not related to the banks’ performance, but a positive association with the social aspects of sustainability was found. This study is the first to develop a sustainability model for the banking sector. Hence, it makes significant contributions to the sustainability literature. It helps improve our understanding of the different dimensions of sustainability, how they are affected by different stakeholders and strategic orientations, and how they affect the performance of banks. The results of this study can help EU and USA banks to direct their efforts to areas that improve their engagement with stakeholders and their own performance.

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31

Mugwabana, Tsimbe. "Creating inclusive financial sectors to address SDGs: factors that influence access from an African context." Master's thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32841.

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In many developing economies, access to and subsequent utilisation of mainstream financial services act as a barrier to financial inclusion. The merging of financial services and information technology, especially by means of mobile devices, result in consumers being able to make use of financial services at any time and place, thereby overcoming the distribution challenges and subsequent use (Gu, Lee, & Suh, 2009). This research examined the factors influencing the continued use of tech-based financial services post adoption by the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) in South Africa. The research uses the risk-benefit framework to understand usage behaviour focusing on cost, convenience, perceived ease of use and risk (security and operational) as predictor variables. The research makes use of analysed secondary data on 481 low-income individuals using the Structural equation modelling (SEM).The partial least squares structural modelling was utilised to test the hypotheses and relationship between the variables. The findings indicate that perceived benefit has a greater influence on usage than perceived risk. Even though consumers consider both benefit and risk in decision making, the expectation of potential benefits is a greater driver of usage. Convenience, cost and perceived ease of use were found to have significant impacts on usage, with the latter two having the greatest impacts. Perceived risk had a significant but weak impact on usage, with operating risk influencing usage more than security risk. The research recommends that when creating a value proposition for Fintech products, resources should be weighted more towards improving and highlighting those factors that drive the perception of benefit or value added to customers (cheaper, quicker etc.) vs. those that manage a potential risk. Customers are likely to respond positively and increase usage when there is an additional benefit to be derived.

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32

Alshareef, Abdullah Ghaleb S. "Identifying factors influencing Saudi Arabian nurses' turnover." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2019. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/130634/9/Abdullah%20Ghaleb%20S%20Alshareef%20Thesis.pdf.

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This study provides the most comprehensive information available, to date, about factors that influence nurses desire to leave their current job and provides evidence for better health workforce planning in Saudi Arabia. This study strongly indicates that the main factor related to turnover is unfair, unequal salaries for different nationalities in Saudi Arabia. The findings of the study will help inform the design of nurse education policy and programs to potentially encourage expatriate nurses to remain.

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33

Abdul, Ghani Suzaini. "Seam performance : analysis and modelling." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2011. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/seam-performance-analysis-and-modelling(da79315f-5f65-4c8d-9715-a7d270d453c8).html.

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Seam quality is affected by various fabric mechanical properties with a combination of their sewing parameters. Previously, a lot of research has been done on identifying the parameters that influencing seam quality by looking into correlation between fabric properties and sewing parameters. The purpose of this current study was to investigate the performance of seam quality in terms of seam appearance and strength constructed with different sewing parameters. Another aim was to identify parameters that influence the seam quality using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) by AMOS and leads to the development of multivariable predictive equations using SPSS. Finally, the validation between experimental and predicted results using newly developed equations was examined using a new set of fabrics. The investigation was done for five different fabric categories, namely light, light to medium, medium, medium to heavy and heavy weight. A total of 45 fabrics with different weave densities, fibre types and structures were used. Seams were produced using various sewing parameters such as threads with different fibre types and structures, needle sizes and stitch densities. All fabrics were tested for their mechanical properties using two established items of equipment known as Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics (KES-F) and Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing (FAST). Seam evaluations together with thread and fabric mechanical properties obtained from KES-F and FAST were used as input for modelling. From the experimental work, it was concluded that the usage of thicker threads did not always give better strength and the seam appearance was also poor. A combination of finer thread with moderate strength and a medium level of stitch density according to fabric weight category provided an effective result for both seam appearance and strength. From the modelling work, it was found that the extensibility, bending and shearing properties, together with thread properties including extensibility, tensile strength and size, were among the properties selected by SEM to be included in the predictive equations. The validation results showed that the standard deviation between fabric properties used to develop the equations and new fabric properties used for validation plays an important role. The principal conclusion was that the prediction equations developed using SEM and SPSS possible to be used and gave a strong validation between experimental and predicted results when the new fabric properties were within one standard deviation.

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Angell, Robert J. "Exploring the grocery store satisfaction of England's older population : an evaluation of antecedents and consequences using structural equation modelling." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/291.

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The number of people aged 60 years and above is increasing in the UK. In total, this age group represents 22% of the population with estimates indicating a rise to 29% by 2050 (United Nations, 2009). One market sector that is extremely important to the health and wellbeing of older people is grocery retail (Khan, 1981). However, little previous research has addressed how older people rate the service delivered by their grocery provider, particularly in regard to satisfaction. To reconcile this gap in theoretical understanding, a sequential transformative mixed-method research design was specified using 36 qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires with 524 subjects. A model including both drivers and consequences of satisfaction was formulated using past research. As such, an antecedent scale for grocery store image was developed via procedures suggested in the extant literature (e.g. DeVellis, 2003). Pre-existing scales (i.e. commitment and loyalty) representing exemplary reliability and validity were borrowed and specified as consequences. The scales were modified and integrated into a ‘structural equation model’. Older people were found to place a high level of importance in aspects of merchandise, store environment, personnel and services. Price/promotions and clientele were found to be insignificant in driving satisfaction. Differences in factor mean scores and structural parameters were then analysed using ‘finite mixture structural equation modelling’ to identify segments of similar respondents (Jedidi et al, 1997). Using posterior probabilities, the emerging segments were subjected to profiling using personal and behavioural variables (Hahn et al, 2002). Market Segmentation showed three groups of similar respondents in the sample population, differing in factor mean scores and psychological operationalisation of satisfaction. Nonetheless, only several differences in personal and behavioural characteristics were found between the segments. Whilst, the results show that segmenting this group is necessary when measuring satisfaction, basing this purely on a priori descriptive variables might be erroneous given the inherent levels of unobserved heterogeneity. The model developed and tested in this study is considered the most up-to-date available in the literature.

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Goldsmith, Kimberley. "Instrumental variable and longitudinal structural equation modelling methods for causal mediation : the PACE trial of treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2014. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/instrumental-variable-and-longitudinal-structural-equation-modelling-methods-for-causal-mediation-the-pace-trial-of-treatments-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome(413e5fb0-03b9-40bc-b993-0465b1bcbdee).html.

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Background: Understanding complex psychological treatment mechanisms is important in order to refine and improve treatment. Mechanistic theories can be evaluated using mediation analysis methods. The Pacing, Graded Activity, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: A Randomised Evaluation (PACE) trial studied complex therapies for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The aim of the project was to study different mediation analysis methods using PACE trial data, and to make trial design recommendations based upon the findings. Methods: PACE trial data were described using summary statistics and correlation analyses. Mediation estimates were derived using: the product of coefficients approach, instrumental variable (IV) methods with randomisation by baseline variables interactions as IVs, and dual process longitudinal structural equation models (SEM). Monte Carlo simulation studies were done to further explore the behaviour of IV estimators and to examine aspects of the SEM. Results: Cognitive and behavioural measures were mediators of the cognitive behavioural and graded exercise therapies in PACE. Results were robust when accounting for correlated measurement error and different SEM structures. Randomisation by baseline IVs were weak, giving imprecise and sometimes extreme estimates, leaving their utility unclear. A flexible version of a latent change SEM with contemporaneous mediation effects and contemporaneous correlated measurement errors was the most appropriate longitudinal model. Conclusions: IV methods using interaction IVs are unlikely to be useful; designs with randomised IV might be more suitable. Longitudinal SEM for mediation in clinical trials seems a promising approach. Mediation estimates from SEM were generally robust when allowing for correlated measurement error and for different model classes. Mediation analysis in trials should be longitudinal and should consider the number and timing of measures at the design stage. Using appropriate methods for studying mediation in trials will help clarify treatment mechanisms of action and allow for their refinement, which would maximize the information gained from trials and benefit patients.

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Loughran, Thomas Ivan Powell. ""A values based electorate?" : how do voters in West European democracies convert their political values into vote choice preferences?" Thesis, University of Manchester, 2016. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-values-based-electoratehow-do-voters-in-west-european-democracies-convert-their-political-values-into-vote-choice-preferences(b1716c93-c730-41e8-acfb-846bb2d51fcd).html.

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It has long been argued that underlying values should hold a central role in political analysis. This would seem particularly relevant in an era of de-alignment and catch-all parties in which political actors often make direct values orientated appeals to the electorate. With the expansion in appropriate data and measures available to empirical researchers, the last two decades have seen a substantial increase in the number of studies directly addressing the values-voting relationship. Values based explanations of vote choice have contributed to a more nuanced understanding of the processes underlying voter preferences and the structure of public opinion within democratic electorates. This existing empirical literature has generally focused on analysing the role of values on voting in single electoral contexts. While this approach has generated many useful findings that establish the role of values in differentiating political choice, it has only partially explored the contextual mechanisms through which values influence vote choice. This is necessary in order to understand under what political conditions values are likely to become more relevant to vote choice decisions. This thesis is an attempt to address three aspects of this gap in the cross-national research literature on values and voting using analyses of data from the 1990 and 2008 waves of the European Values Survey. Firstly it provides a cross-national analysis of core political values that enables a comparison of the role of values in structuring electoral competition across 15 West European countries. Secondly, it estimates the role that left-right political identity has in mediating the influence of values on vote choice using a structural path model. This provides a cross-national test of this mechanism and therefore assesses variation in the values-voting relationship across different national contexts. Thirdly, the thesis provides a systematic empirical analysis of the influence of political context on the values-voting relationship by testing the effect that macro level system factors, such as polarisation and the number of parties, have on the influence of values. The headline findings of the thesis are that political values are dynamic constructs that can demonstrate subtle variations in the preferences of voters across different electoral contexts. Political values have a multi-dimensional influence on electoral choice; with variation in voter preferences being highlighted by both value differentiation (having opposite preferences for the same value dimension) and emphasis (having a preference for different values). Left-right identity can act as both a mediator and a confounder of political values influence on vote choice. Political context is primarily relevant to the influence of values on voting through the content of supply side party competition as opposed to the structure of that competition. Overall, the study argues the findings show that supply side political context plays a crucial role in defining the parameters and strength of the values-voting relationship in each specific electoral arena.

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37

Shirin, Artyom. "Evaluating the effects of corporate reputation on employee engagement." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23051.

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This study explores the previously less researched impact of corporate reputation on employees, more specifically on employee engagement. Employee engagement and corporate reputation are concepts that have been receiving attention in both business and academia alike, especially in view of the economic turmoil of the past decade as both constructs have been shown to affect profits. The study was designed in a way to measure the impact of employees’ perceptions of corporate reputation on their engagement with the corporation, while controlling for the state of their psychological contract with the organisation. An online survey of 509 employees from a large South African bank provided the data to which a Structural Equation Model (SEM) emanating from the theoretical background was fitted. The results of the model unequivocally confirmed that corporate reputation perceptions are an important predictor of employee engagement. It was also found that psychological contract breach influences both perceptions of reputation by employees and employee engagement directly. The implication is that corporate reputation can have a strong influence on tangible results through employee engagement. Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) unrestricted

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38

Denney, Anabelle June. "The role of mindfulness in the relationship between self-care practice and vicarious traumatisation in trainee therapists." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/15385.

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Vicarious traumatisation (VT) has been defined as an experience of change in several domains of personhood including worldview, identity, and beliefs related to major psychological needs. Self-care practice is widely considered essential in sustaining personal and professional well-being, and a lack of appropriate practice can enhance the risk of VT in trainee and newly qualified therapeutic practitioners. Both quantitative and qualitative research suggests that mindfulness practice can have a protective role in the risk of VT for trainees. This study examined the relationship between VT, self-care and mindfulness in a sample of 238 trainee therapists from the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland. Structural equation modelling was used to test a mediation model with good fit with self-care as predictor variable, mindfulness as mediator, and VT as outcome variable. The hypothesis that when controlling for the effects of mindfulness on VT the effect of self-care on VT is no longer significant could not be confirmed as no mediational effect was present. The hypothesis that predicted a negative association between self-care practice and VT was confirmed with a significant total effect although the direct effect of self-care on VT was not significant. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research involving mindfulness in trainee cohorts. Links are made with neuroscience research to consider underlying mechanisms of mindfulness within the context of VT.

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39

Basak, Munmun. "An empirical investigation of critical risk factors impacting schedule overrun in upstream gas projects in Australia." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2020. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/206457/1/Munmun_Basak_Thesis.pdf.

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This project is a step forward in developing an integrated risk management framework to minimize schedule overrun in upstream gas projects in Australia. It examines critical technical and non-technical risks and demonstrates their interaction and interdependencies in the project environment that influence delays, potentially enabling industry practitioners to understand individual and collective influence of risk and implement strategies to achieve optimum results. It implements a three-phase research design involving survey and case studies to triangulate data and findings and the high degree of agreement between these findings together with literature review, bolster the robustness and confidence in this investigation’s findings.

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40

Al-Dossary, Saeed. "A study of the factors affecting student retention at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia : structural equation modelling and qualitative methods." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/691.

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The purpose of the study was to identify factors affecting student retention at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. It has been estimated that 35% of university students leave higher education before completing their studies (Al-Saud, 2006). This study was guided by Tinto’s (1975) Student Integration Theory. Berger and Braxton (1998, p. 104) have stated that Tinto’s integration model ‘has been the focus of much empirical research and has near-paradigmatic status in the study of the college student departure.’ This theory is longitudinal and dynamic and views student retention decisions largely as the results of interactions between the student and the academic and social systems of the institution (Tinto, 1975, 1993). This study used a mixed methods approach. Using the terminology of Creswell (2003), the appropriate description of the overall design of this study is a mixed methods concurrent triangulation strategy. This means that ‘qualitative and quantitative data are collected and analyzed at the same time. Priority is usually equal and given to both forms of data. Data analysis is usually separate, and integration usually occurs at the data interpretation stage’ (Hanson et al., 2005, p. 229). This strategy was selected because it allows the findings to be confirmed, cross-validated, and corroborated within a single study (Creswell, 2003). This strategy consisted of two phases. The first phase was the quantitative approach. Quantitative data were collected from 414 freshman students using two questionnaires administered on two occasions and from the university admission office. The quantitative data were analysed using a structural equation modelling (SEM) technique using the AMOS software package. The results of the SEM indicated that Tinto’s model were not useful in predicting the Saudi freshman student retention process. The variables in the model explained only 30 percent of the variance in student retention. The results of the SEM indicated that four of the nine hypotheses proposed in Tinto’s model were supported by statistically significant results. Moreover, only three variables had direct effects on retention. The largest direct effect on retention was accounted for by initial goal and institutional commitment (0.49), followed by later goal and institutional commitment and pre-college schooling as measured by high school scores (0.10). The second phase of this study utilised a qualitative approach. Qualitative data were obtained from three sources: non-persister students, persister students, and staff members. Seventeen non-persister students were interviewed over the phone; 15 persister students were interviewed using a focus group technique; while staff members were asked to complete a survey. Of the 200 surveys distributed, 37 were returned including responses from 16 lecturers, 12 administrators, 5 librarians and 4 academic advisors. A comparison was made between those students who persisted and those who dropped out using constructs from Tinto’s theory. In relation to students’ levels of goal and institutional commitment, it was found that persister students appeared to be more motivated and to have higher levels of goal commitment than non-persister students. Similarly, persister students appeared to have higher levels of institutional commitment than non-persister students, in part it is suggested, due to the fact that the majority of persister students had been able to select their desired majors whereas the majority of non-persister students had not. In relation to the students’ levels of academic integration, there was no significant difference between both groups of students. Persister and non-persister students both exhibited low levels of academic integration into the university system. In addition, there was no significant difference between both groups of students in terms of social integration. Both groups of students indicated low levels of social integration into the university system. In addition, the participants (persister students, non-persister students, and staff members) were all asked to indicate what they perceived to be the major factors affecting student retention at King Saud University. The findings from the qualitative data not only help to explain and confirm the quantitative findings but also identify why Saudi freshman students leave the university before completing their studies. The most important factors were: difficulties of selecting majors, difficulties of transferring between subjects, lack of academic advice and irregularity of monthly reward.

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41

Kam, Chi-kit Charles. "The exploration of a multi-dimensional safe behaviour model for construction workers in Hong Kong : a structural equation modelling approach." Thesis, University of Hull, 2002. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:3553.

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Safety and Health in the workplace has long been the priority work of the Hong Kong administration but the accidentstatistics in Hong Kong tell another story. No matter how sophisticated a safe system is designed, its ultimate success depends very much on the person who carries out the job. Safe behaviour has therefore become the contemporary study of safety and health at work.Since human behaviour is a multidimensional construct, its understanding requires a multiple theory approach. Inspired by this concept, this study explores a Multi-Dimensional Safe Behaviour Model in explaining Construction Workers' Safe Behaviour. The study examines its implication for management when safe behaviours are to be instilled. Nine psychological theories and models, identified under the perspective of the Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Community Level are examined. A short list of 9 variables of "Social Norm", "Management Commitment", "Safety Knowledge", "Perceived Risk", "Safety Experience", "Self Efficacy"; "Perceived Consequence", "Chance" and Intention to Behave" was constructed. Three hypothetical constructs of "Social Support", "Attitude" and "Expectance" composed of observable indicators from the nine identified variables are also formed. The variables are then put together into a hypothesised Multi-Dimensional Safe Behaviour Model with the casual relationships between variables identified. A Structural Equation Modelling procedure shows that the hypothesised Multi-Dimensional Safe Behaviour Model fits the data reflecting the necessity of adopting a holistic approach in addressing behavioural issues. "Safety Attitude" is found to impose a positive effect on the worker's "Intention to Behave Safely" indirectly via a mediating factor of "Chance Locus". The study conveys practical implications to safety management and researchers. Research limitations and areas for further study are also discussed. Safety behavioural initiatives based on the model testing results in promotion workers' safety behaviours are also addressed.

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Mayerl, Jochen, and Manuel Holz. "Comparing health of migrant and native populations : Testing intercultural and longitudinal measurement equivalence of the SF-12 using Structural Equation Modelling." Technische Universität Chemnitz, 2019. https://monarch.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A38387.

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Response-sets belong to reoccurring problems in migration research. Cultural factors, time-varying effects and survey design lead to response biases. It could be shown that depending on the region of origin, migrants tend to extreme or centred responding behaviour. Macroscale changes in attitudes towards disclosure of personal information influence acquiescent biases. Therefore, the question arises whether the presence of measurement equivalence can be assumed, especially within instruments regarding subjective feelings, when differences between migrant and native populations are the variable of interest. The aim of the study is to test for intercultural and longitudinal equivalence of the Short Form 12 - items scale (SF -12), trying to answer the question whether this instrument is useful to compare health of migrants and native Germans over time. The study contributes to the ongoing discussion on measurement equivalence of the SF -12 by including variables concerning integration and assimilation, employment, family status and varying types of migration and years since migration to the analysis. Using longitudinal data from the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP) and a Structural Equation Modelling approach, Different Item Functioning can be detected for a series of covariates. The study concludes in recommending a reduced version of the SF-12 to improve the avoidance of measurement artefacts when comparing the health of migrants and native Germans.

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43

Andrea, Andrea Ximena. "Housing and Homelessness: Two Models of the Relationship Between Quality of Life, Physical Health, and Mental Health." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/31902.

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With the increase in quality of life (QoL) research in recent years and its relationship to physical and mental health, building a model of these relationships is an important pursuit for researchers with the aim of creating targeted social policy and programs. Two studies were designed to test a model of the relationship between quality of life, physical health, and mental health on two different groups in the National-Capital region: a housed sample and a homeless and vulnerably housed sample. Study 1 consisted of 1,339 adults who took part in the 2007-2008 Canadian Community Health Survey and were stably housed in either a rented or owned residence. Study 2 consisted of 395 single adults who participated in the City of Ottawa baseline measure of the Health and Housing in Transition (HHiT) study (Hwang, Aubry, et al., 2011) and were homeless or vulnerably housed. Subjective levels of various physical and mental health indicators were measured for each of the samples, along with subjective quality of life indicators. Of interest in each of the studies was: 1) The effect that physical and mental health factors have on quality of life in each of the samples, and 2) determining if mental health or physical health is a better predictor of quality of life. Structural analysis of the housed sample model resulted in both physical and mental health having a significant positive effect on QoL, although neither physical nor mental health was a better predictor of quality of life. For the homeless and vulnerably housed model, structural analysis determined mental health to have a significant direct positive effect on QoL, while physical health showed a non-significant negative effect. Mental health was determined to be a significantly better predictor of QoL in the homeless and vulnerably housed model, accounting for 30.47 percent of the variance in quality of life. Implications of this research are discussed.

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44

Chegus, Matthew. "The Influence of Technology on Organizational Performance: The Mediating Effects of Organizational Learning." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/37086.

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Organizations depend upon ever greater levels of information technology (IT), such as big data and analytics, a trend which shows no sign of abating. However, not all organizations have benefited from such IT investments, resulting in mixed perceptions on the value of IT. Organizations must be knowledgeable in order to properly utilize IT tools and be able to apply that knowledge to create unique competencies in order to gain sustained advantage from IT investments. Organizational learning (OL) has been proposed as the mechanism to accomplish this task. Existing empirical research demonstrates that OL may indeed act as a mediator for the effect of IT on organizational outcomes. Yet, these studies are not consistent in their conceptualizations of the relationships involved, nor in their definitions and measurement of OL. Many use a descriptive measure of OL despite theory suggesting that a normative measure may be more appropriate. This study aims to address these concerns in a Canadian setting by using structural equation modelling (SEM) to compare the effectiveness of descriptive and normative measures of OL as mediating variables in knowledge-intensive organizations. Survey results support OL as a mediator between IT and organizational performance in addition to normative measures of OL outperforming descriptive measures. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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45

Raybould, Michael, and n/a. "Attitudes and Information Effects in Contingent Valuation of Natural Resources." Griffith University. Australian School of Environmental Studies, 2006. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20061009.150949.

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This thesis investigated the effects of photographic and text information on respondents' attitudes and willingness-to-pay for a proposed beach protection scheme in the erosion prone Gold Coast region on the east coast of Australia. The research developed two alternative expectancy-value attitude-behaviour models to test residents' attitudes toward relevant targets and behavioural intention, expressed through stated willingness-to-pay, and compared the proposed models with one established attitude-behaviour model. The thesis set out to investigate three central research questions; one question relating to the effects of information on attitudes and willingness-to-pay, and two questions relating to the relationships between attitudes and willingness-to-pay. It was hypothesised that photographs that depicted severe erosion damage would result in more positive attitudes toward, and greater willingness-to-pay for, beach protection than photographs that showed only mild levels of erosion damage. Positive relationships were hypothesised between variables representing attitudes toward beach erosion, attitude toward beach protection, attitude toward paying for beach protection, and willingness-to-pay. Finally, it was hypothesised that the relationships between attitudes and willingness-to-pay could be adequately explained by the proposed attitude-behaviour models. The thesis describes how seven information treatments and eight attitude measurement scales were developed and tested in a pilot experiment before use in a survey of homeowners in the region of interest. Analysis of variance showed that, while respondent's attitude toward beach protection was affected by the information treatments, their willingness-to-pay for the proposed program was insensitive to information. There were no significant effects that could be attributed exclusively to text descriptions of the good but there were significant effects that could be attributed to photographic information treatments. However, none of the effects on attitudes resulted in significant effects on the behavioural intention expressed in stated willingness-to-pay. Analysis of respondents with low previous knowledge of the proposed good revealed more extensive information effects on attitudes, but still not on willingness-to-pay, and this suggests that high levels of previous knowledge in a large proportion of the sample had a moderating effect on attitude change caused by the information treatments. Regression analysis showed that seven of the eight attitude and behaviour variables in the proposed attitude-behaviour model were significant predictors of willingness-to-pay. In the final phase of the analysis, goodness-of-fit indices, estimated using Structural Equation Modelling, indicated a good fit between the data and the attitude-behaviour models tested. Standardised coefficients on the model indicated that perceived behavioural control, expected utility of outcomes, and subjective norms all had strong direct relationships with stated willingness-to-pay, and strong indirect relationships on willingness-to-pay via attitudes toward payment. These results are consistent with the relationships proposed in attitude-behaviour models and the moderating effects of these variables explain why significant information treatment effects were observed on attitude to beach protection but not on willingness-to-pay. This research showed that respondent's willingness-to-pay in a contingent valuation experiment is quite insensitive to photographic treatments when previous knowledge is high and that costly and time consuming testing procedures, recommended by authorities, may not be necessary under these conditions. It also demonstrated that measures of attitude, consistent with an attitude-behaviour model, can be collected easily in a contingent valuation study and can contribute to understanding of participant responses and to identification of protest responses.

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46

Blakely, Tanya Jillaine. "Tree holes as habitat for aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates in mixed broadleaf-podocarp rainforest, New Zealand." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/1698.

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Little is known about the spatial distribution and abundance of tree holes in New Zealand’s native forests, or the invertebrate communities that they support. I found that tree holes were common on five endemic tree species, belonging to the families Fagaceae and Podocarpaceae in the mixed broadleaf-podocarp rainforest of Orikaka Ecological Area, Buller District, New Zealand. However, tree holes were not uniformly distributed throughout the forest, with more holes found on the three podocarp species, Prumnopitys ferruginea, P. taxifolia and Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, than on Nothofagus fusca or N. menziesii. Nevertheless, Nothofagus fusca had the largest holes of any of the tree species sampled and larger trees generally had larger holes. Large, hole-bearing Nothofagus fusca trees support a specialist hole-dwelling vertebrate fauna in New Zealand and worldwide, tree holes provide habitat for a range of invertebrate species. Using specially-designed emergence traps, I collected invertebrates emerging from naturally-occurring dry tree holes and compared this assemblage with invertebrates inhabiting leaf litter on the forest floor and those dispersing aerially throughout the study area. At the higher taxonomic resolution (i.e., Order or Class), community composition within the tree holes was highly variable, and there was no strong distinction between invertebrates from tree holes, leaf litter or Malaise traps. Moreover, although some beetle species emerging from tree holes were found exclusively in tree holes, most of these were represented by a single individual. Consequently, only minor differences in species composition were detected between beetle assemblages from tree holes, leaf-litter and those aerially dispersing throughout the forest. In contrast, the aquatic invertebrate assemblage within water-filled tree holes was highly distinctive from that in ground-based freshwater ecosystems, with only six aquatic taxa in common between all freshwater habitats. Using experimental water-filled tree-hole microcosms, I found that species richness and community composition within these microcosms were primarily driven by resource concentration, although habitat quality (i.e., water chemistry parameters) was also an important determinant of the identity and composition of colonising species. Overall, my study has shown that tree holes are common in the study area, and are likely to be more abundant in New Zealand’s indigenous forests than previously thought. Moreover, these generally small, discrete forest ecosystems support a diverse array of terrestrial invertebrates as well as a distinctive aquatic invertebrate community that is primarily structured by organic matter resource availability. These findings not only represent an important advance in our knowledge of New Zealand’s freshwater invertebrate biodiversity, but also highlight the need for further investigation into these unique forest canopy habitats which may well be at risk from deforestation and land use change.

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47

Bäckström, Pontus. "Kamrateffekter i skolundervisning – En ramfaktorteoretisk analys." Licentiate thesis, Högskolan för lärande och kommunikation, Jönköping University, KunskapsKulturer & UndervisningsPraktiker, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-50914.

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In the educational literature on peer effects, attention has been brought to the fact that the mechanisms creating peer effects are still to a large extent hidden in obscurity. The hypothesis in this study is that the Frame Factor Theory can be used to explain these mechanisms. At heart of the theory is the concept of “time needed” for students to learn a certain curricula unit. The relations between class-aggregated time needed and the actual time available, steers and hinders the actions possible for the teacher. Further, the theory predicts that the timing and pacing of the teachers’ instruction is governed by a “steering criterion group” (SCG), namely the pupils in the 10th-25th percentile of the aptitude distribution in class. The class composition hereby set the possibilities and limitations for instruction, creating peer effects on individual outcomes. To test if the theory can be applied to the issue of peer effects, the study employs multilevel structural equation modelling (M-SEM) on Swedish TIMSS 2015-data (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study; students N=3761, teachers N=179). Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in the SEM-framework, latent variables are specified according to the theory, such as “limitations of instruction” from TIMSS survey items. The results indicate a good model fit to data of the measurement model. The SEM-model verify a strong relation between the mean level of the SCG and the latent variable of limitations on instruction, a variable which in turn has a great impact on individual students’ test results. Thus, the analysis indicates a confirmation of the predictions derived from the frame factor theory and reveals that one of the important mechanisms creating peer effects in student outcomes is the effect the class composition has upon the teachers’ instruction in class.

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48

Raybould, Michael. "Attitudes and Information Effects in Contingent Valuation of Natural Resources." Thesis, Griffith University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367928.

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This thesis investigated the effects of photographic and text information on respondents' attitudes and willingness-to-pay for a proposed beach protection scheme in the erosion prone Gold Coast region on the east coast of Australia. The research developed two alternative expectancy-value attitude-behaviour models to test residents' attitudes toward relevant targets and behavioural intention, expressed through stated willingness-to-pay, and compared the proposed models with one established attitude-behaviour model. The thesis set out to investigate three central research questions; one question relating to the effects of information on attitudes and willingness-to-pay, and two questions relating to the relationships between attitudes and willingness-to-pay. It was hypothesised that photographs that depicted severe erosion damage would result in more positive attitudes toward, and greater willingness-to-pay for, beach protection than photographs that showed only mild levels of erosion damage. Positive relationships were hypothesised between variables representing attitudes toward beach erosion, attitude toward beach protection, attitude toward paying for beach protection, and willingness-to-pay. Finally, it was hypothesised that the relationships between attitudes and willingness-to-pay could be adequately explained by the proposed attitude-behaviour models. The thesis describes how seven information treatments and eight attitude measurement scales were developed and tested in a pilot experiment before use in a survey of homeowners in the region of interest. Analysis of variance showed that, while respondent's attitude toward beach protection was affected by the information treatments, their willingness-to-pay for the proposed program was insensitive to information. There were no significant effects that could be attributed exclusively to text descriptions of the good but there were significant effects that could be attributed to photographic information treatments. However, none of the effects on attitudes resulted in significant effects on the behavioural intention expressed in stated willingness-to-pay. Analysis of respondents with low previous knowledge of the proposed good revealed more extensive information effects on attitudes, but still not on willingness-to-pay, and this suggests that high levels of previous knowledge in a large proportion of the sample had a moderating effect on attitude change caused by the information treatments. Regression analysis showed that seven of the eight attitude and behaviour variables in the proposed attitude-behaviour model were significant predictors of willingness-to-pay. In the final phase of the analysis, goodness-of-fit indices, estimated using Structural Equation Modelling, indicated a good fit between the data and the attitude-behaviour models tested. Standardised coefficients on the model indicated that perceived behavioural control, expected utility of outcomes, and subjective norms all had strong direct relationships with stated willingness-to-pay, and strong indirect relationships on willingness-to-pay via attitudes toward payment. These results are consistent with the relationships proposed in attitude-behaviour models and the moderating effects of these variables explain why significant information treatment effects were observed on attitude to beach protection but not on willingness-to-pay. This research showed that respondent's willingness-to-pay in a contingent valuation experiment is quite insensitive to photographic treatments when previous knowledge is high and that costly and time consuming testing procedures, recommended by authorities, may not be necessary under these conditions. It also demonstrated that measures of attitude, consistent with an attitude-behaviour model, can be collected easily in a contingent valuation study and can contribute to understanding of participant responses and to identification of protest responses. Thesis (PhD Doctorate) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Australian School of Environmental Studies Full Text

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49

Alfraih, Fraih. "The role of transformational leadership in influencing students' outcomes in public secondary schools in Kuwait." Thesis, Brunel University, 2014. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/10684.

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This study investigates the role of transformational leadership in influencing students’ outcomes in public secondary schools using Kuwait as a case study. The standard of academic achievement in Kuwait’s public schools has been declining over the years, which calls for a different type of leadership to transform these schools. It is argued in this thesis that there is merit in bringing in private sector business models to the public education sector in order to transform the sector and improve the schools’ outcomes. Furthermore, not much research has been undertaken on the paths through which transformational leadership influences public school outcomes in developing countries such as Kuwait. Following a critical review of leadership literature, a theoretical model for leadership that is transformational was conceptualised and this formed the basis of hypotheses formation and data collection. The thesis is thus original in its attempt to understand the paths through which school heads’ transformational leadership influence student’s outcomes in public secondary schools in a developing country (Kuwait). The study adopted a positivist ontology and objective epistemology and obtained data from 495 school heads and staff from 86 public secondary schools in Kuwait via a structured questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation models (SEM) tested the direct and indirect effects of school heads’ transformational leadership in influencing students’ outcomes the student “achievement” and the student “engagement” via several mediating variables including “school culture”, “class room condition” and “academic emphasis”. The analysis identified idealized influence (attributes) and idealized influence (behaviour) as the underlying dimensions of transformational leadership that directly and indirectly influences both student engagement and student achievement as the final outcome. The findings also confirmed differences between males and females in their leadership styles and subsequent influence on students’ achievement, and student engagement with the latter appearing to be better school heads. Therefore, two structure equation models were built to investigate the characteristics of each gender leadership style on the outcome variables. The findings also revealed that males’ leadership style has significant effect on student achievement but not student on engagement, while female leader ship style has significant effect on both student achievement and student engagement stronger than the males’ effect counterpart. Generally however, transformational leadership style has significant effect on both student achievement and student engagement. The study objectives were met and the study contributes to understanding the role of transformational leadership and its influence on staff and students’ achievement, from a developing country in the GCC. Managerial recommendations and suggestions for policy makers are made. Study limitations are highlighted leading to suggestions for further study.

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50

Lucchesi, Shanna Trichês. "Aplicação de preços hedônicos para avaliação da influência da caminhabilidade no preço dos imóveis." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/150501.

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O preço de um imóvel é definido como um preço hedônico, visto que sua formação é dada através de um conjunto de atributos que consideram, além das características do próprio bem, tais como número de quartos, vagas na garagem, área privativa, entre outros; as características do bairro onde este imóvel está inserido. Existe uma demanda crescente por imóveis localizados em regiões com uso de solo misto, densificadas e com fácil acesso a serviços. Essas características estão fortemente vinculadas ao conceito de caminhabilidade. Juntamente com facilidade de acesso ao transporte público, desenho urbano que favoreça o deslocamento dos pedestres e segurança pública, formam as 6 dimensões da caminhabilidade utilizadas nesse estudo. Bairros com essas características estimulam viagens a pé e estima-se que haja uma valorização imobiliária de seus empreendimentos, com consumidores dispostos a pagar mais por imóveis residenciais localizados em regiões caminháveis. Para testar o impacto da caminhabilidade no valor do preço, foram utilizados modelos de equações estruturais. Eles permitem que conceitos como os de caminhabilidade e segurança pública, que não podem ser diretamente medidos (variáveis latentes), possam ser explicados por medidas observáveis que atuam como formadoras desses conceitos. Os resultados obtidos confirmam a hipótese, com o preço do metro quadrado de imóveis residenciais a venda crescendo conforme aumenta a caminhabilidade. A segurança pública demonstrou ser o fator mais importante na explicação da caminhabilidade e consequentemente na valorização do preço. Sale price of a property is defined as a hedonic price, since its value is formed by a set of attributes that cover more than just characteristics of the product itself, such as number of rooms, parking spots and private area. There is a growing demand for properties located in areas with mixed land use, densified and with easy access to products and services. These characteristics are strongly linked to the concept of walkability, usually named as walkability dimensions. Neighborhoods with these features encourage commutes by walking and are likely to have a real estate valuation, with consumers willing to pay more for residential properties located in walkable areas. Structural equation models were used to test the impact of walkability on sales price. This methodology allows to quantify concepts as walkability and security, that could not be directly measured (latent variables), by using the observable variables that compose them. The results confirm the hypothesis that increase in walkability will also raise the sales price. Security has proven to be the most important factor in the walkability explanation and consequently in price appreciation.

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