Posted: May 29th, 2015

MRes Business and Management, BQ7805 Advanced Quantitative Research/Structural Equation Modelling and Logistic regression

MRes Business and Management, BQ7805 Advanced Quantitative Research/Structural Equation Modelling and Logistic regression

Task 1 Structural Equation Modelling
The following model is a reconceptualisation of the Theory of Consumption Value (TCV) developed by Sheth et al. (1991).  The main premise of the model is that the six dimensions of the TCV (money, time, functional, epistemic, emotional and social) should be organised hierarchically (cognitive proceed affective).  The proposed functional relationships between the TCV dimensions and their impact on satisfaction are depicted in the below figure.
The data collected through an e-survey amongst post-graduate students  can be found in the TCV MRes dataset, all constructs are reflective in nature, the scale items associated with each construct are self-evident and detailed wording is presented below.
Using either covariance or variance (pls) structural equation modelling, test the proposed model (inner/structural and outer/measurement) and report the results.

Scale items

Functional
•    My degree will allow me to earn a good/better salary
•    My degree will allow me to achieve my career goals
•    The knowledge I have acquired on my course will enable me to do my current/future job better
•    My degree will lead to promotion in my current/future job
•    My degree is a good investment in my future
•    Taking my course has contributed to my personal development

Epistemic
•    The content of my course keeps me interested
•    I learn new things from my course
•    The course content contributes to the high value of my education
•    The academic guidance I receive from lecturers on my course has enhanced the value of my degree
•    The supporting material supplied to me on my course have helped my learning

Social
•    People who are important to me think that taking my course is a good thing do to
•    People who influence what I do think that taking my course is a good idea
•    My current/future employer will see me in a better light when I have finished my degree
•    The support of my friends and family has been important in helping me through the course

Emotional
•    I feel proud that I’m taking my course
•    Taking my course has boosted my self confidence
•    Taking my course has fulfilled an ambition of mine
•    My performance on the course depends upon my personal effort
•    Taking my course has give me a sense of self-achievement

Transaction value
•    Enabled our company to provide more extensive services
•    Reduced the number of errors made during financial transactions
•    Offered our company greater degree of privacy in our financial transactions
•    Made a positive change to the quality of financial transactions carried out by our company

Time
•    I have had to give up some other interests of mine in order to do this course
•    My studies have reduced the time I spend with my family
•    My studies have reduced the time I spend with my friends
•    I’m happy to make personal sacrifices in taking the course because I believe I will benefit from it in the long term

Money
•    The monetary price paid for my course is reasonable when I consider what I am getting out of it
•    When considering the monetary price of my course, I believe that the price/quality ration is good

Satisfaction
•    All things considered, so far I am satisfied with my course
•    Overall, so far I believe I am satisfied with my educational experience at KBS

Your answers should contain only RELEVANT SPSS or AMOS or SmartPLS output.  All supporting software output must be placed in appendices.

Reference
Sheth, J.N., Newman, B.E. and Gross, B.L. (1991), “Why we buy what we buy: A theory of consumption values”, Journal of Business Research, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 159-170.

Task 2 Logistic regression
The data set cashless_logit.sav contains responses from a survey of opinions towards cashless transactions.  The study was designed to investigate the effect of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of cashless payments (the two central concepts in Davis’ 1989 Technology Acceptance Model) on attitudes towards replacing cash.  Trust in cashless payment systems as well as demographic information was collected from 320 respondents.
Attitude towards replacing cash was measured using a single question with a yes / no answer.  Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were measured using 4 item scales; trust was measured on a 5 item scale.  Age, education level and gender were measured using a set of dummy variables.
The assignment task is to run a binary logistic regression model and report the results.  As three of the predictor variables are multi-item scales, their psychometric properties must be assessed before they can be used to create variables which can be included in the logit (e.g by averaging the item scores for each construct) The write up of the results should include an assessment of overall goodness of fit, the statistical significance and impact of the independent variables on the dependent variable and an assessment of the presence or absence of influential cases and outliers.
The report should contain relevant SPSS output.  Supporting output may be placed in appendices.
Scale items
Perceived Usefulness
1.    Electronic payments and transactions makes it easier to conduct payments
2.    Electronic payments are more efficient than cash payments
3.    Electronic payments increases my productivity and are less time consuming
4.    Electronic payments are more useful and practical than traditional ways of paying

Perceived Ease of Use
1.    Electronic ways of paying are generally easy to use
2.    It is generally easy to learn new ways of paying or conducting transactions
3.    Electronic ways of paying are clear and understandable
4.    Electronic payments are easier to use than cash
Trust
1.    I trust that an electronic transaction of money is private and confidential
2.    I trust that electronic payments are processed securely and thereby implies low-risk
3.    I trust that my personal information is stored safely when electronic transactions are carried through
4.    I trust and rely on the stability of the systems required for electronic payments
5.    I believe electronic payments are a safe, stable and consistent way of paying

Marking Criteria for both tasks:
1.    Appreciation of the purpose and scope of the analytical technique.
2.    Technical competence in the application of the technique, alternatives available and justification of decisions taken.
3.    Clarity and justification of exposition – problem statement, selected methods and their suitability, any perceived limitations.
4.    Understanding of how the outcome of the analysis relates to a broader set of questions and problems.
5.    Quality and integration of related literature cited.
6.    Professional standards of presentation.