Scale modification: alternative approaches and their consequences

Important marketing scales such as SERVQUAL are often adapted for use in a particular applied/theory-testing context and/or refined using some statistical method, assuming the resultant scale will have improved psychometric properties for a particular application. However, little attention has been paid to the consequences of how scale modifications are made, the criteria that are used to assess how well a modified scale performs, and whether scale modification is in fact worthwhile. To investigate these issues, we review approaches to scale modification, select an influential marketing scale and use context, and then examine the effects of the different scale modification approaches on which items are included in the refined scale. We then cross-validate the psychometric performance of the resulting scales using criteria that reflect the multiple purposes to which a scale can be applied. The results show approaches that leads to a more reliable scale for one purpose (e.g., segmentation) can be far less adequate for another purpose (e.g., benchmarking).     

Infrastructure,returns to scale and sovereign debt

This paper explores the nexus between the issue of sovereign debt and investment in infrastructure, emphasizing the case of economies of scale. The focus is on debt contracts that are incentive compatible. It is shown that public and private financial institutions may need to lend amounts above some threshold to force the borrowing sovereign to take full advantage of any economies of scale that may be present. Low levels of lending may or may not result in default. Sufficiently high amounts of lending may be needed to ensure repayment and may prove to be mutually beneficial.     

Children's Perceived Value: Conceptualization,Scale Development,and Validation

Perceived value among children is an important concept in consumer decisions, yet surprisingly no research has operationalized value for this consumer group. To address this omission, and following the guidelines of DeVellis (2016), this investigation reports the findings of a seven-stage process to develop a valid and reliable instrument for measuring perceived value among children aged 8–14 years. Value for children is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct capturing perceptions of what is received and what is given up, which differs from adult measures in terms of its composition and complexity. A 24-item scale is developed that shows internal consistency, reliability, construct validity, and nomological validity. We also demonstrate the validity of the new scale beyond an existing adult perceived value measure. Directions for future research and managerial implications of the new scale for studying children's consumer behavior are discussed.     

An Empirical Analysis of Franchisee Value-in-Use, Investment Risk and Relational Satisfaction

An exchange perspective of franchising recognizes the important role that both the franchisor and franchisee assume in developing and maintaining sustainable relationships. However, should franchisees not perceive value in the quality of provided products or services, some incentive misalignment between agent and principal is likely (e.g. free riding, non-compliance with system standards), potentially resulting in greater perceptions of financial risk, diminished levels of franchisee satisfaction, reduced unit performance and conflict ( [Harmon and Griffiths, 2008] and [Kaufmann and Dant, 1998] ). A greater understanding of franchisee perceptions of value is very important if ongoing satisfaction in the franchising relationship is the goal. This paper, therefore, makes a significant contribution to such an understanding by empirically testing the dimensions of value that influence franchisee perceptions of risk and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, we make important comparisons across gender, the results of which provide rich information. In theoretical terms, we advance the literature in the context of value and franchising and, in practical terms, the results, by managing for performance (financial risk and relationship quality), assist franchisors in developing, delivering and managing what is of value to their franchisees. Furthermore, the findings of this study provide a solid platform for future research in this area.     

连锁企业规模扩张的理论思考

连锁商业是一种规模经济较为明显的商业组织形式。连锁企业在发展中普遍具有规模扩张的本能，通过规模扩张来实现规模经济效益。但是，我国连锁企业的规模的扩张存在一些问题，尤其是某些基本概念混淆不清，这造成了实践中的许多偏差。因此，本文通过对连锁企业规模扩张进行理论梳理，重新界定连锁企业的规模扩张，分析探索其内在规律，以便提供对我国连锁企业规模扩张的有益启示。     

FTA背景下市场规模、产品差异与关税保护——基于空间经济学模型的解析

在缔结自由贸易协定(FTA)时,大多数缔约方对本方竞争力弱的产业往往采取关税保护措施。在确定需要保护的本方产业时大多数缔约方往往采用贸易竞争度等方法而忽略考虑了缔约双方的市场规模和产品特性。这往往会造成保护失当或达不到预期的保护效果。本文采用空间经济学模型,对市场规模、产品差异化程度与关税保护的效果之间进行模拟分析。通过分析得出:虽然关税能够防止本方产业的流出,但是对市场规模小的缔约方来说效果有限;市场规模小的缔约方无需对产品差异化程度小的产品采取高关税保护措施而只需对产品差异化程度大的产品采取高关税保护措施。     

倒“U”型城市规模效率曲线及其政策含义——基于中国地级以上城市经济、社会和环境效率的比较研究

关于城市规模问题在中国城市化进程中受到广泛关注,各种关于城市规模的理论和政策争论的焦点在于,城市规模效率与城市规模之间的倒“U”假说是否成立。本文利用数据包络分析（DEA）中的BCC模型、超效率模型和Tobit回归模型,系统测算和分析了中国城市和地级市及以上城市2005—2010年的规模效率及其与城市规模之间的关系。总体来看,中国城市规模效率与其规模正相关,地级市及以上城市经济、社会和环境规模效率与其规模基本上呈“倒U”型关系,倒“U”曲线顶点对应的城市规模对城市发展具有较强的政策含义。据此,本文提出“促进中小城市发展、限制超大城市、完善城市管理、协调区域城市发展”的政策思路。     

固体废物——氧化皮中酸溶亚铁的特征及其含量测定

氧化皮中FeO、Fe3O4物相较多,完全氧化态Fe2O3含量比较少。本文采用在二氧化碳气体保护下,用盐酸分解试样,以二苯胺磺酸钠为指示剂,用重铬酸钾标准溶液滴定测试FeⅡ含量。用此方法对2个样品分别进行了7次测量,标准偏差为0.060%、0.075%,相对标准偏差为0.17%、0.12%,回收率在100.12%-100.39%之间。将Fe^Ⅱ、TFe/Fe^Ⅱ与进口铁矿比较,发现FeⅡ含量可以作为初步鉴别氧化皮的特征。     

我国工业制成品出口的本地市场效应研究——基于1996-2009年分行业的面板数据

就本地市场效应对出口贸易的解释力、本地市场效应的行业特征,贸易自由化对本地市场效应的影响三个方面,利用1996-2009年我国分行业的面板数据对本地市场规模与国际贸易的关系进行了实证研究。研究结果表明,现阶段国内市场规模对制造业一般贸易、加工贸易均有显著正向影响;分行业类型的回归结果显示,本地市场效应发挥作用的强度在不同行业间存在明显差异。另外,随着贸易自由化的推进,具有资本、技术密集型特征的行业呈现"放大"的本地市场效应。最后在上述分析的基础上提出了相关建议。     

Measuring experienced emotions during service recovery encounters: construction and assessment of the ESRE scale

The role of emotions is increasingly gaining attention as a central element in understanding customer evaluations of service failure and recovery experiences. Despite the importance of emotions for service organizations, however, empirical investigations of customers’ emotional response to service recovery encounters remain scarce. A reason for this has been the absence of a valid and reliable measurement instrument for analyzing and comparing the emotions associated with different recovery experiences. Addressing this issue, the current paper presents the development and validation of a new scale specifically designed to measure experienced emotions during service recovery encounters (ESRE). The results show that the ESRE scale is a valid and reliable instrument, which should be helpful for empirically studying the role of emotional responses to service failure and recovery encounters.

Measurement of organizational investments in social capital: The service employee perspective

This paper describes the development and validation of a measure of organizational investments in social capital (OISC). The scale development process is carried out over three stages (item generation, scale purification, scale validation), with two separate data collection phases involving a total of 735 working adults from multiple and diverse service-related workplace settings. As such, the data provide evidence for the face, content, discriminant, convergent and nomological validity, dimensionality and reliability of the OISC measure. The OISC measure is a concise, unidimensional scale that has the potential for significant usage in the development and testing of theory, as well as practical application in retail and other service provision contexts.     

Faith at Work Scale (FWS): Justification,Development, and Validation of a Measure of Judaeo-Christian Religion in the Workplace

Workplace spirituality research has sidestepped religion by focusing on the function of belief rather than its substance. Although establishing a unified foundation for research, the functional approach cannot shed light on issues of workplace pluralism, individual or institutional faith-work integration, or the institutional roles of religion in economic activity. To remedy this, we revisit definitions of spirituality and argue for the place of a belief-based approach to workplace religion. Additionally, we describe the construction of a 15-item measure of workplace religion informed by Judaism and Christianity – the Faith at Work Scale (FWS). A stratified random sample (n = 234) of managers and professionals assisted in refining the FWS which exhibits a single factor structure (Eigenvalue = 8.88; variance accounted for = 59.22%) that is internally consistent (Cronbach’s α = 0.77) and demonstrates convergent validity with the Faith Maturity Scale (r = 0.81, p > 0.0001). The scale shows lower skew and kurtosis with Mainline and Catholic adherents than with Mormons and Evangelicals. Validation of the scale among Jewish and diverse Christian adherants would extend research in workplace religion.     

外国直接投资对我国进出口规模的影响——基于虚拟变量、协整及格兰杰检验的实证研究

本文根据1980-2004年我国出口、进口和外国直接投资的数据,利用虚拟变量、单位根检验、协整检验、格兰杰检验和建立回归模型等方法,就外国直接投资对我国外贸进出口规模的影响进行了实证研究和度量,得出结论:外国直接投资对我国的进出口规模具有促进作用,1996年后随着利用外国直接投资结构的不断优化和调整,在促进外贸增长的贡献效用上也有了大幅度提升,最后提出了相应的政策建议。本文的创新点在于使用虚拟变量衡量定性因素,在建模前进行了充分的前提检验,以保证模型是稳定和有效的。     

Building value with packaging: Development and validation of a measurement scale

In the absence of studies that include holistically all the current functionalities of packaging, this research develops and validates at confirmatory level a third-order scale for measuring the functional value of packaging. The measure accounts for protection, convenience, portability & storage, information, branding, engagement, sustainability and economy and considers active and intelligent functions. The psychometric properties of the scale are analysed in a total of 5 studies. Results indicates that protection, sustainability and information are the most relevant functions. This scale amounts to a useful tool that can serve as a framework for managers in numerous sectors.     

我国寿险公司规模效率与内含价值的实证分析

本文运用数据包络分析方法(DEA)研究各寿险公司的规模效率,使用截取回归模型(Tobit)分析影响效率的因素.研究发现,我国寿险业在快速发展的同时,没有明显表现出规模经济性;影响保险公司规模效率的主要因素是经营费用和保费收入,经营费用的负向影响作用大于保费收入的正向作用.寿险公司在扩大规模的同时,更应该注重提高效率和内含价值.     

跨国外包对我国制造业就业的影响效应

本文运用我国1996—2008年28个制造业面板数据检验了参与跨国外包对制造业就业的影响。研究发现,跨国外包促进了我国制造业就业增长,而且服务外包对就业拉动作用大于制造外包。跨国外包对制造业就业规模正面影响存在行业差异,其中对高技术产业影响程度最大,其次是中等技术行业,最后是低技术行业。不论服务外包还是制造外包都不能显著地提升我国制造业的就业结构。实证结果所蕴含的政策启示在于:我国不能仅仅依靠参与跨国外包缓解就业压力,更为重要的是通过加快产业转型与升级以切实提高本土产业对劳动力的吸纳能力。     

Financial development and international trade: Is there a link?

This paper explores a possible link between financial development and trade in manufactures. The theoretical model focuses on the role of financial intermediaries in facilitating large-scale, high-return projects and shows that economies with better-developed financial sectors have a comparative advantage in manufacturing industries. We provide evidence for this hypothesis, first proposed by Kletzer and Bardhan (Journal of Development Economics 1987;27:57-70), using a 30-year panel for 65 countries. Controlling for country-specific effects and possible reverse causality, we show that financial development exerts a large causal impact on the level of both exports and the trade balance of manufactured goods.     

A theory-based measure of acculturation: The shortened cultural life style inventory

This paper describes a model of acculturation for classifying minority consumers into distinct categories depending on their attitudes and behaviors toward their minority culture and toward the majority culture. These categories are assimilation, segregation, and integration. The model differs from previous models of acculturation in consumer research in that it does not assume a linear progression toward assimilation. The acculturation categories identified by the model can be used to segment minority markets. A reduced version of a previous scale based on that acculturation model is developed and validated in two empirical studies in a consumer research setting. Our scale can be used by managers to segment minority populations.     

城市基础设施提供的最优规模——MDP税收分配模型的一个运用

城市公共基础设施的规模究竟是否恰当已日益成为关注焦点。而采用何种科学的经济学方法来评价公共品最优规模在现实中一直没有得到有效解决，通过引入MDP税收分配机制，我们能较好地促使经济主体显示其对公共品的真实偏好，从而达到公共品的最优配置规模。根据MDP机制，我们还可以对城市各项公共设施规模进行检验，以促进公共品的有效配置。     

规模扩大对高中学校组织结构的影响

学校规模与组织结构变迁之间存在着密切关系,本研究希望通过探讨规模扩大对学校组织结构的影响,分析现存的问题,并提出建议。