Explaining interviewer effects and respondent behavior: Theoretical models and empirical analysis

The behavior of respondents in interview situations has been dealt on the one hand with respect to many empirical studies and on the other hand in connection with different theoretical approaches (Hyman 1954; Cannell & Kahn 1968). In this paper the most relevant theoretical explanations are discussed and systematized from the point of view of the theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein 1980). Whereas this theory program has been used in many substantive fields, it has rarely been applied to the problem of interviewer effects and response sets. In this approach one assumes that the actors in interview situations decide according to cost-benefit calculations. The theory of reasoned action is viewed as an operationalized theory, discussed in more detail and formalized via structural equation models. These models are empirically tested with the data of a survey specifically designed to perform such a method study. The reported contact rates of German with foreigners is the dependent variable under study. First, a model without interviewer variables is tested to explain respondent behavior in terms of norms, attitudes and some other determinants. Then the status and the age of interviewers are introduced as situational determinants of the respondents' behavior. For subgroup analyses the respondents are divided into three groups varying in the amount of the need for social approval. The models are tested according to two subgroups (low and high need for social approval) with the technique of multiple group comparison in LISREL (Jöreskog/Sörbom 1988). All models and results are interpreted in terms of the theory of reasoned action. At the end some conclusions for modelling interviewer effects and respondent behavior are discussed.     

Theoretical analysis and empirical measurements of the effects of the Philadelphia income tax

This study develops policy-oriented measures of optimal local taxes and their maxima which take into account the existence of macro multipliers, other taxes, and discounting. It also presents an estimate of the effects of the Philadelphia income tax on employment tax and revenues. An upper bound for the optimal tax rate is suggested. The current tax rate is found to perhaps be above both the optimal and the revenue maximizing (or monopoly) point.     

Toward a theory of entrepreneurial behaviour; empirical evidence from Israel,Italy and Sweden

Translated versions of the Miner Sentence Completion Scale-Form T and of the Differential Attribution Questionnaire were administered to entrepreneurs and to managers, in Israel, Northern and Southern Italy and Sweden. The results of this research yield strong support for a framework that integrates affective and cognitive motivational factors. In particular, it found: (1) that the way entrepreneurs deal with negative outcomes explains their perseverance and affects their self-achievement; (2) a risk-avoidance rather than a risk-taking preference distinguishes them; (3) Self-Achievement; Risk-Avoidance and Personal Innovation appear to be major components of Task Motivation. This research appears to move closer toward a more parsimonious and clearer understanding of the behaviour of the central figure in wealth formation, thus providing a framework for the designing of entrepreneurial development programmes.     

Mokken scale analysis for polychotomous items: theory,a computer program and an empirical application

This paper contains three subjects. First, an extension of Mokken's nonparametric item response models from dichotomous items to items with two or more ordered answer categories is proposed. Second, a computer program to analyze multicategory item scores is presented. This program is called MSP. The analyses by means of MSP are based on the multicategory extension of Mokken's theory. Finally, an application of MSP to empirical multicategory test data is presented in order to illuminate its possibilities.     

Policy consequences of direct legislation theory, empirical models and evidence

Most theoretical models predict that institutions allowing for direct legislation should lead, on average, to policies more closely reflecting the wishes of the voters. While some agreement exists at the theoretical level about the expected policy consequences of direct legislation, empirical evidence has been scant so far. In this paper I discuss the reasons for this scantiness of empirical evidence, namely the intricacies of the adequate empirical model to test the theoretical proposition, and suggest possible solutions to this problem. Re-analyzing a dataset with which some authors have found no evidence in support of the theoretical claim, I show that with a better adapted empirical model we find results in synch with our theoretical expectations. Thus, policies in states that allow for direct legislation reflect on average more closely the voters?? wishes. Using Monte-Carlo simulations I also demonstrate the properties of the proposed estimator and suggest that it could be used in other contexts, like when assessing the responsiveness of legislators.     

Learning and relearning effects with innovative service designs: An empirical analysis of top golf courses

This paper examines learning and relearning effects for initial service designs and later service redesigns. We analyze an experience-based service where external design firms typically perform service design and implementation tasks, while local service personnel manage daily operations. We examine whether the quality of service during routine operation periods exhibits learning effect patterns. We also examine window of opportunity effects after major redesigns. Examining yearly data on top Texas golf courses, we observe learning across the lifespan of golf courses and relearning after golf course redesigns. The findings contribute to the literature on learning and experience-based services. The study provides managerial insight by demonstrating the extent of learning, illustrating how redesigns can affect service outcomes negatively, showing how relearning occurs, and discussing tactics for success when redesigning services.     

Front-line responses to customer orientation programmes: a theoretical and empirical analysis

Programmes designed to strengthen customer orientation among front-line service workers represent one of the most common forms of culture change initiatives within service organizations. Despite their importance to contemporary management theory and practice, we know relatively little about how employees react to interventions of this kind, and why they react as they do. The paper aims to address this gap in the literature. It does this through an analysis of front line reactions to a major customer care initiative in one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK. Using data from a large-scale employee survey carried out in seven stores, we first propose a general typology of employee responses to customer care programmes. We then examine some typical employee profiles associated with the main types of response. The analysis is placed within a wider theoretical context consisting of a critical overview of the main theories which might help explain the nature of general and individual reactions to culture change programmes. To this end, we address and draw upon a variety of literatures and debates linked to various aspects of organization and management, industrial psychology, training and development and critical discourse analysis.     

Heterogeneity biases,distributional effects,and aggregate consumption: An empirical analysis using stratified microdata

Using stratified microdata from the Canadian FAMEX (78–86) surveys, this paper investigates whether observed heterogeneity in marginal propensities to consume across strata actually hinders the aggregation process. Despite significant heterogeneity in marginal responses, the divergences between aggregate predicted consumption and the predictions from a model that uses average strata responses are found to be small, whenever the strata demands are approximatively linear at the mean and the commodity group considered is not a luxury good. On the other hand, some cross-sectional estimates obtained by pooling the strata are shown to be contaminated by unwanted cross-moments. Further, the analysis reconciles the fact that while there exists significant heterogeneity in consumer demands, the related distributional effects in the aggregate equation have not been found to be important.     

中小型电力变压器渗漏油的原因分析及解决方法

文章通过对3000多台变压器使用情况进行对比分析,总结出变压器检修及维护质量不佳是变压器漏油的主要原因,提出了变压器渗漏油的预防措施及解决方法。这对于保证变压器的正常运行、检修质量和检修周期有着十分重要的意义。     

Applying real options theory to HRM: an empirical study of IT software firms in India

Environmental uncertainties can impact the market value of a firm's human assets both positively and negatively, and make return on human assets uncertain over time. However, the strategic human resource management (SHRM) literature has so far focused almost exclusively only on the upside value of human assets of a firm. Real options theory can provide the process heuristics as well as the economic logic for guiding investments in human assets to create sustainable market value for firms operating in uncertain environments. In spite of the growth in popularity of the real options approach, no meaningful progress, however, has been made towards application of this approach to HRM. This study, using data from 108 IT software development firms in India, seeks to address this gap and make three important contributions to the SHRM literature: (1) operationalise the concept of HR options by identifying the HR practices that possess option value; (2) investigate how use of HR options affects firm-level performance; and (3) develop and test a causal model that links the various types of HR options that firms use to exploit uncertainties faced by them with the firm-level operational and financial outcomes. The results support the central hypothesis of the article that use of HR options by firms operating in uncertain environments would have positive impact on their operational and financial performance. Significant differences were observed in the nature of linkages between different types of HR options used to address different types of uncertainties, and the operational and financial performance of the firm.     

Implicit leadership in an intercultural context: theory extension and empirical investigation

Prior literature highlights that subordinates' identification with their leader is important for leader success. This study explores new mechanisms of implicit leadership and their effects on identification by subordinates. Using data from two sources – subordinates from five regional clusters and expatriate leaders – this study reveals that a leader's underfulfilment of subordinates' expectations of leadership harms their leader identification. Moreover, simple fulfilment of subordinates' expectations toward leadership does not affect their identification; to do so requires overfulfilment. Furthermore, the effects of underfulfilment strengthen with greater collectivism and low power distance, whereas overfulfilment effects are mitigated by these cultural dimensions.     

Inventory record inaccuracy: Causes and labor effects

Inventory record inaccuracy (IRI) is a pervasive problem in retailing and causes non-trivial profit loss. In response to retailers’ interest in identifying antecedents and consequences of IRI, we present a study that comprises multiple modeling initiatives. We first develop a dynamic simulation model to compare and contrast impacts of different operational errors in a continuous (Q, R) inventory system through a full-factorial experimental design. While backroom and shelf shrinkage are found to be predominant drivers of IRI, the other three errors related to recording and shelving have negligible impacts on IRI. Next, we empirically assess the relationships between labor availability and IRI using longitudinal data from five stores in a global retail chain. After deriving a robust measure of IRI through Bayesian computation and estimating panel data models, we find strong evidence that full-time labor reduces IRI whereas part-time labor fails to alleviate it. Further, we articulate the reinforcing relationships between labor and IRI by formally assessing the gain of the feedback loop based on our empirical findings and analyzing immediate, intermediate, and long-term impacts of IRI on labor availability. The feedback modeling effort not only integrates findings from simulation and econometric analysis but also structurally explores the impacts of current practices. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for practitioners and researchers.     

Acquisition activity of large depository institutions in the 1990s:: An empirical analysis of motives

This study examines the performance and ownership structure characteristics of financial institutions that chose to aggressively expand by acquiring other institutions. The “wealth maximization hypothesis” posits that in an era of deregulation, the most efficient institutions will acquire the less efficient, thereby creating value and benefiting shareholders. Conversely, the “incentive conflict hypothesis” argues that a large number of acquisitions is a symptom of managers pursuing their own self interests. The empirical results are consistent with the wealth-maximization hypothesis for acquirers that have at least one large outside blockholder and when acquisition activity is measured by assets acquired. But, when acquisition activity is measured by the number of acquisitions, our results fail to support the wealth-maximization hypothesis. Together, these results imply that benefits are more likely to be created when the expansion strategy is implemented by making large acquisitions rather than numerous small acquisitions.Jel classification: G21, G28, G34     

城市规划原则和方针执行难原因分析

从法制、城市建设投资和经济学的角度,分析了近年来我国城市规划原则和方针执行难问题的症结所在,提出了关于执行和落实城市规划原则和方针的思考和建议.     

我国大城市生产和人口过度集中的原因分析

分析了我国劳动力流动的三个重要特征:农民工工资与城市生活成本的非相关性;农民工和应届大学毕业生对城市病的不敏感性;大城市居民中劳动人口较高的迁移成本。在此基础上讨论了其对生产和人口在大城市的过度集中的影响。     

An empirical test of a decision theory model for entrepreneurial acts

A decision theory model is presented where the decision to start a firm is assumed to be a rational economic decision of a utility maximizer. The model is tested using data for business births in 82 Mississippi counties over the period 1979-1987. Results of the aggregated model are encouraging but suggest that the alternative to a risky venture is not riskless wage labour. Rather, wage labour also carries a risk which is important in determining whether to start a business. The results indicate that there is a strong economic motivation in entrepreneurial ventures which must be considered in addition to psychological factors. The model suggests that encouragement of entrepreneurial ventures can be based upon lowering thc costs of start-ups and policies that increase the probability of success.     

城市化进程中小城镇发展滞后原因探析

21世纪以来,我国小城镇在人口吸纳、产业转换、城镇建设等方面的发展水平均滞后于城市化的总体进程。导致这一现象出现的原因除了小城镇自身的特质外,乡镇体制改革以及国家对产业、金融、土地等政策的调整成为根本性的影响因素。小城镇的发展滞后带来了资源配置失衡、城市化不足等一系列负效应,影响了城市化进程。因此,必须给予小城镇相应的政策支持、资金支持,转变其发展模式,尽快提高其城市化水平。     

Institutions and public investment: an empirical analysis

This paper investigates the effect of institutional quality on the levels, volatility and quality of public investment. Our findings suggest an inverse relationship between public investment levels and institutional quality, supporting the idea that governments use public investment as a vehicle for rent seeking. We also find that lower quality of governance increases the volatility of public investment. Finally, we provide some tentative evidence of a positive relationship between institutional quality and the quality of infrastructure. Policymakers who aim to reduce infrastructure needs through capital spending should take measures to strengthen institutional capacity to manage public investments.     

Commitment to company and labour union: empirical evidence from South Korea

Commitment is an important part of business and a vocal part of the lexicon of many commentators and actors in the employment relations arena, including management, trade unions and policy makers. This is partly in the context of the interest in many countries in human resource management, in which commitment is seen as a key part, and the more recent ideas of ‘employee engagement’. Commitment, and the related topic of dual commitment, has also generated academic interest. However, much of the work has come from the US. This paper applies such ideas via a set of hypotheses in a different context – South Korea – with commonly viewed widespread high commitment, both to (and from) companies (e.g., strong internal labour markets) and unions (e.g., militancy). Is there a paradox in this duality, or can workers be committed to both companies and unions? What are the antecedents of this? This paper finds that workers can have dual commitment and that different factors affect the commitment to company and labour union, although labour–management relations climate, job satisfaction, as well as company tenure, are common predictors