Multi-item scale usage in marketing journals: 1980 to 1989

The use of multi-item scales reported in six marketing journals during the 1980s is analyzed. The analysis replicates some aspects of the Churchill and Peter (1984) study and extends the examination to issues not reviewed previously in marketing. The database for the study is unique in that it attempts to incorporate every instance of scale usage from the defined domain. Among the findings is that the use of multi-item scales increased substantially during the 1980s but the reliability of those scales was not different from earlier periods. A majority of scales have their origins in marketing and nearly half of all scales were used to measure consumer behavior constructs. He is Director of the Office of Scale Research and has written theMarketing Scales Handbook along with Dr. Hensel. His research has been published in theJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Marketing Education, and many other journals and conference proceedings. His research has emphasized measurement and advertising issues as well as ethical and social issues. He has published in journals such as theJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Advertising, Journal of Health Care Marketing, andJournal of Business Ethics. He also co-authored theMarketing Scales Handbook with Dr. Bruner.     

Reversed-polarity items and scale unidimensionality

A standard procedure in the development of multi-item measurement scales is to incorporate reversed-polarity items to control for and/or identify acquiescence response bias. In spite of the broad acceptance of this approach, very little work has been done to evaluate the impact of reversed-polarity items on the dimensionality of scales. This study empirically evaluates the impact of reversed-polarity items on the unidimensionality of several well-known marketing measures. The authors suggest that use of reversed-polarity items may present a substantive problem for marketing scholars because of the resulting degradation of scale unidimensionality. The existence of this phenomenon is confirmed in a multisurvey, multiscale, binational research design. Implications for marketing scale developers and measurement theoreticians are discussed, theoretical bases that might explain the phenomenon are explored, and further research suggestions are presented. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 1989. His current research interests include cross-cultural marketing strategy, sales force management, and psychometrics. He is a previous contributor to theJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science and has also been published in theJournal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, International Marketing Review, andEuropean Journal of Marketing, among others. Before receiving his D.B.A. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, he served in marketing positions for international firms and as marketing chairs for two industry associations. His research interests include product innovation and new product strategy.     

A measure of alienation from the marketplace

For the purpose of equipping researchers in marketing with a more sophisticated method to measure alienation in a marketing context, the authors have constructed and initially tested an alienation from the marketplace index. Alienation is defined in terms of Melvin Seeman's (1959) five basic variants of alienation: powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, social isolation, and self-estrangement. After pretesting, two questions per variant of alienation remained as the operational measures of alienation from the marketplace. These questions focused specifically on marketing phenomenon. Test-retest reliability was tested with 35 paired observations. Validity was checked with survey data from 140 households. In terms of face or content validity, the questions met the criterion of “looking as if” they should indicate the corresponding dimensions of alienation. Correlations between the marketplace alienation items and a measure of general alienation established concurrent validity. The authors propose that the use of the marketplace alienation index in studies involving those who are affected by our country's business climate may prove useful. For example, one would hypothesize that increasing alienation from the marketplace would be associated with support of consumerist goals, or even of additional government legislation to control problems that the individual feels is uncontrollable by him because of the bigness and indifference of modern day enterprise. Pepsico, Inc.     

Key aspects of organizational buying: conceptualization and measurement

Much research has been devoted to organizational buying. Unfortunately, few studies focus on the development of specific measures of organizational buying behavior. And although many concepts in the literature are useful for describing and discussing buying behavior, they often cut across other buying activities and therefore may not be empirically distinct. This research applies a combination of literature- and field-based approaches to develop four distinct constructs that underlie the numerous activities in which buyers engage: procedural control, proactive focusing, use of analysis techniques, and search for information. Measurement scales for these constructs are created and then evaluated through a survey of purchasing professionals. The procedure resulted in a set of constructs and measures that may be applied to several complex areas of organizational buying research. She received her B.A. and M.B.A. from Michigan State University and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the use of information in various decision contexts. She has published several articles in journals such as theJournal of Marketing, Journal of Business to Business Marketing, andHealth Marketing Quarterly. Her research has also appeared in the proceedings of several national conferences.     

Bias and variability in purchase intention scales

Although purchase intention scales are widely used, relatively little is known about bias and variability in the estimated purchase proportions. Psychometric techniques have been developed to correct for such problems, and analytical approaches have shown that most predictive errors can be explained as probabilistic variability. However, there is a lack of systematic empirical work in the area. We address this problem using two meta-analyses of published work. Our results show that purchase intention scales are empirically unbiased. Furthermore, the variability is much less than previously assumed. This finding improves the confidence researchers can have in the use of such scales. Interestingly, purchase probability scales performed even better than purchase intention scales. The greater precision of probability scales suggests that they may be more useful both as direct measures of likely behavior and as dependent variables in consumer behavior research.     

Cluster analysis versus Q-type factor analysis as a disaggregation method in hybrid conjoint modeling: An empirical investigation

The author compares the predictive performance of cluster analysis and Q-type factor analysis as disaggregation methods in hybrid conjoint modeling. The results indicate that cluster- and Q-type-factor-based models perform about equally well in predictive validity terms. The paper, however, suggests the need for more empirical research.     

Selling,general, and administrative expense (SGA)-based metrics in marketing: conceptual and measurement challenges

Many studies use variables from the Compustat database to measure various marketing constructs, yet no clear guidelines detail which metrics correspond with which constructs. Justifications rest mainly on the ready availability of easy-to-use measures that seem related to a particular construct. As a result, various metrics have been utilized to capture the same construct, and the same metric—such as selling, general, and administrative expenses (SGA)—has been applied to capture vastly different constructs. But using SGA inappropriately can lead to biased estimates, questionable support for the hypotheses, and potentially misleading implications for research and practice. To test the validity of SGA for multiple relevant marketing and sales constructs, this study gathers data on benchmark variables from alternative data sources and applies a multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) approach. Results show that, in general, SGA has been applied too liberally in marketing contexts; SGA is an appropriate operationalization only for some constructs. This article provides guidelines for the proper conceptualization and operationalization of marketing constructs.     

Measuring personal cultural orientations: scale development and validation

Cross-cultural studies using Hofstede’s national scores to operationalize his five cultural factors at an individual level suffer from ecological fallacy, and those using self-report scales treat cultural factors as unidimensional constructs and provide little or no evidence of the construct validity and measurement equivalence of these scales. This paper reconceptualizes Hofstede’s five cultural factors as ten personal cultural orientations and develops a new 40-item scale to measure them. It also establishes the validity, reliability, and cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the new scale, and discusses its advantages over other scales.     

银行理财顾客感知价值权衡因素的测评体系

针对银行理财产品营销实践中仅仅关注顾客感知风险的片面做法,从感知利益与感知风险的双重视角对影响理财顾客感知价值的核心权衡因素进行了测评。结合文献回顾与内容分析的结果,构建了银行理财顾客感知价值权衡因素测评指标体系,从感知利益与感知风险的构成维度开发出一套测度量表,并通过对1 010位银行个人理财顾客的调研验证了量表的信度与效度。     

Assessing the predictive validity of two methods of measuring self-image congruence

The predictive validity of two measurement methods of self-image congruence—traditional versus new—were compared in six studies involving different consumer populations, products, consumption settings, and dependent variables (brand preference, preference for product form, consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction, brand attitude, and program choice). The traditional method is based on tapping the subject’s perception of product-user image and the subject’s perception of his/her self-image along a predetermined set of image attributes and adding the self-congruity scores across all image dimensions. Three problems were identified and discussed in relation to the traditional method: (1) the use of discrepancy scores, (2) the possible use of irrelevant images, and (3) the use of the compensatory decision rule. The new method is based on tapping the psychological experience of self-congruity directly and globally. The findings demonstrated the predictive validity of the new method over and beyond the traditional method. His research interests are mostly in self-concept, quality of life, and systems theory. His research interests are mostly in pricing and product quality. Her research interests are primarily in family decision making. Her research interests focus on the social psychology of clothing and patronage of clothing retailers. His research interests are mainly in the social psychology of travel and leisure behavior. His research interests are mainly focused on self-concept, quality of life, environmental marketing, and sports marketing. His research interests are mainly in self-concept and value-expressive advertising. He is the Academy of Marketing Science Distinguished Professor of Business and is the founder of the Academy of Marketing Science. He currently serves as the organization’s executive director. His research interests are mostly in consumer behavior and advertising.     

Theory and external validity

Winer (1999 [this issue]) proposes that external validity concerns require more attention in theoretical research. The author argues that one cannot “enhance” external validity by choosing one method over another. External validity can only be “assessed” by better understanding how the focal variables in one’s theory interact with moderator variables that are seen as irrelevant early in a research stream. Findings from single real-world settings and specific sets of “real” people are no more likely to generalize than are findings from single laboratory settings with student subjects. Both the laboratory and real world vary in background facets of subject characteristics, setting, context, relevant “history,” and time. It is only when these facets vary and we see how they interact that understanding of external validity is enhanced. For this to happen, the observable “background” factors have to be conceptualized in terms of more general constructs and incorporated as moderators into the researcher’s theory. Enriched theory—not method—confers confidence in our understanding of whether effects will be robust or highly contingent. To map this knowledge to some specific substantive system requires an added step of understanding the mapping from observables in that system onto theoretical constructs. The author proposes “friendly amendments” to Winer’s three proposals to pursue a better understanding of external validity through theory. John G. Lynch, Jr. is the Hanes Corporation Foundation Professor of Business Administration at Duke University. His research and teaching interests are in consumer behavior, electronic commerce, and validity issues in research methodology. He a past president of the Association for Consumer Research, past associate editor for theJournal of Consumer Research, and past associate editor and coeditor of theJournal of Consumer Psychology. He has been the recipient of the MSI/Paul Root Award atJournal of Marketing, the William O’Dell Award atJournal of Marketing Research, and has twice been the recipient of theJournal of Consumer Research best article award.     

The unequal group size problem in discriminant analysis

The technique of multiple discriminant analysis has seen widespread use in marketing studies. In assessing the predictive efficiency of the derived discriminant functions, the proportional chance criterion is frequently used. This criterion is adequate except in situations when the classification groups are of greatly unequal size. The purpose of this article is to illustrate a procedure which adjusts the groups' sizes so as to allow effective use of the proportional chance criterion under a wider range of circumstances. The article presents an actual problem situation experienced by the author and the procedure used to overcome it.     

An assessment of the reliability and validity of husband and wife self-report purchase decision making measures

An assessment was made of the reliability and validity of self-report measures of three separate constructs hypothesized to operate in husband and wife decision making for durable goods purchases. In addition to the traditional construct of Influence, Importance, and Participation in the decision were also examined through the use of constant sum scaled responses for both husbands and wives. Following Davis’ (1976) admonition to focus on the decision process, the present study conceptualized the purchase decision as consisting of three stages with multiple subdecisions in each stage. The results of a multitrait-multimethod matrix analysis support the use of a constant sum scaling approach to measuring the three constructs. The findings also indicate the existence of two dimensions within the purchase decision process for the durable goods of automobiles and family room furniture. These dimensions were labeled resource allocation and variant selection decisions. The findings also suggest that importance is a global construct in decision making while influence and participation are more purchase situation specific.     

Bundle evaluation in different market segments: The effects of discount framing and buyers’ preference heterogeneity

Heterogeneity of buyers’ preferences has played a significant role in the earlier economic analyses of bundling and continues to be important in the recent investigations initiated by marketing and consumer researchers. Guided by a decision-framing conceptualization, this study suggests that in a market characterized by heterogeneous preferences for items included in a bundle offer, buyers’ bundle evaluations may vary significantly depending on which item is featured as the price leader (i.e., the discounted item). When two unequally preferred items were evaluated for purchase as a set, bundle evaluation was more enhanced when the price leader was also the more preferred item. Thus, under such preference conditions, bundle evaluation may be quite sensitive to the choice of the price leader. Besides highlighting the importance of incorporating psychological considerations in bundling research, the results of this study also raise questions about the validity of a key assumption made in the extant analyses of bundling strategies. Specifically, perceived savings on one item may not always transfer readily to other items included in a bundle offer. He received his Ph.D. in marketing from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His research interests include price perception, pricing strategy, price bundling, and decision making. His research has been published in theJournal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, andReview of Marketing. He is a member of the editorial advisory board ofPricing Strategy & Practice.     

An examination of free elicitation and response scale measures of feelings and judgments evoked by television advertisements

Recent research has examined the role of feelings and judgments evoked by television advertisements through the use of large batteries of rating scales. In this study, free elicitations of feelings and judgments about ads are compared to scale responses. Some potential problems pertaining to the use of large batteries of items to measure feelings and judgments are illustrated, and complementary aspects of the two measurement approaches suggest some advantages of the concurrent use of both in gauging responses to ads. Results across both approaches confirm the importance of assessing feelings in models of the antecedents of attitude toward the ad and suggest that feelings explain about as much variance in Aad as do judgments.     

方法、反方法与经济学方法的开放性

关于经济学方法论的讨论,强调用抽象法、演绎法和实证法的学者主张用普适的科学方法研究经济问题;而强调用归纳法、历史法和规范法的学者则对上述科学方法提出质疑.本文认为.应从更为基础性的方法论层面看待经济学方法的选择问题,建立科学的、开放的、和谐的方法论观.     

Predictive validity of ethnic identification measures: An illustration of the English/French classification dilemma in Canada

To establish the predictive validity of ethnic identification measures, respondents in the Montreal Urban Community were surveyed and measured on a variety of ethnic dimensions. The data was then fed to a clustering algorithm. Two-group clustering assignments were then compared to traditional taxonomic measures. It is shown that some measures do an excellent job in classifying respondents, while others, which are commonly used in practice, do not fare as well.     

贵州商专新生心理普查与心理建档工作研究

本研究在对贵州商专2006年以来历年开展的心理普查的纵向研究及与国内高校相关调查研究的横向比较的情况下,使用SCL-90量表对该校2011级学生进行了心理普查,在开展了资料查阅,院校、系部走访调查的基础上,结合贵州商专近几年心理健康教育工作、学校校园三级心理防护网建设及新生心理普查情况,汇总资料、总结经验,对如何更为科学、规范、有效地开展新生心理普查以及心理建档的目的、项目构成,心理档案的管理与使用规范进行了探讨。     

Label versus position in rating scales

The current study is important for two reasons: First, it demonstrates a procedure for isolating both the label and position effects in rating scales. In addition, it indicates that subjects seem to respond to the actual adjectives employed rather than to their positions relative to the endpoints. Further research should be conducted, in order to determine the relative importance of label and position effects in rating scales, using subjects other than students. Since much research involves the use of rating scales, this is certainly an important area that warrants considerably more investigation. Interpublic Group of Companies     

阅读测试效度浅析

阅读测试效度是以语言学习，语言教学和语言测试的研究为基础的。它包含阅读过程和阅读技巧，涉及测试目的以及所学专业知识；它包括选择相关并合适的材料，设计出合适的测试项目而又不影响被试者的阅读能力；它还要考虑题的难度和干扰项等因素。