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The purpose of this paper, taking banking as the research object, is to build up a psychology covenant model for service enterprises and customers and to seek the form of the construction dimension in the psychology covenant between the service enterprise and the customer.

SPSS16.0 was used for the exploratory factor analysis and AMOS7.0 for the confirmatory factor analysis.

The psychological contract between service enterprises and customers is composed of two‐dimensional structures: the transactional psychological contract and the relational psychological contract.

The biggest limitation of this paper is the research region being limited to banking. Future research can extend to other industries.

The result has the theoretic reference to the tactic establishment for customer relationship management in China's service industry against the background of a transfer economy.

This paper aims to identify the unidimensionality and reliability of 84 factors that influence the performance of construction projects and develop a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model.

The study adopted a deductive research approach and started by identifying the positive factors that influence construction project performance. This was followed by the modification of the identified factors. After that, a questionnaire was developed out of the factors for data collection. Exploratory factor analysis was used to establish the factor structure of the positive factors, and this was verified using CFA afterwards. A model fit analysis was performed to determine the goodness of fit of the hypothesised model, followed by the development of the confirmatory model.

The study demonstrated substantial correlation in the data, sufficient unidimensionality and internal reliability. In addition, the estimated fit indices suggested that the postulated model adequately described the sample data.

The paper revealed that performance can be enhanced if stakeholders identify and leverage the positive factors influencing performance. The paper suggests that project stakeholders, particularly government, project owners, consultants and construction firms, can improve project performance by critically examining economic and financial systems (EFS), regulation and policy-making systems (RPS), effective management practices (EMP) and project implementation strategies (PIS).

The contribution of this paper to the present literature is identifying the positive factors and developing the confirmatory factor model. The model comprised 42 positive variables under four indicators: EMP, RPS, PIS and EFS.

This research develops a scale to measure taxpayers’ motivation to hire tax preparers. Prior research has examined this topic with simple checklists or open-ended questions. The importance of the taxpayer–preparer relationship suggests more research is needed, and a valid scale would increase the generalizability of findings. Initially 76 items were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. The data indicate four separate constructs: legal compliance, time savings, money savings, protection from/avoidance of the IRS. After the initial analysis, 27 items remained, a second round of data was collected, and confirmatory factor analysis and coefficient alpha allowed further reduction to 14 items. The final constructs remain the same. This scale is a methodological contribution for use by tax researchers that will assist in increasing the generalizability of findings regarding taxpayers’ motivations to hire tax preparers.

The paper seeks to focus on the concept of total quality management (TQM) in a specific sector: the food sector. The purpose of this paper is to factorize the TQM concept by analyzing the TQM practices implemented and the results achieved from implementing such practices. It also aims to determine the means by which the quality management results are optimized.

A research project was carried out in 92 Greek food companies that were certified to ISO 9001:2000 and ELOT 1416 standard (hazard analysis critical control points, HACCP system certification). The data collection method used in this study was that of the questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to assess the reliability and validity of the latent constructs/factors (unobserved variables) of the TQM practices implemented and the respective results. The latent constructs/factors that had significant impact on the results achieved were determined through multiple linear regression analyses.

The analysis revealed four latent constructs/factors regarding the TQM practices and three latent constructs/factors regarding the results achieved through implementing such practices. According to the findings, a company's quality improvement is equally influenced by the adoption of quality practices by the top management as well as process and data quality management. A company's quality improvement was found to be the factor that primarily contributes to customer satisfaction, while the customer focus is proved to be of secondary significance. Finally, the findings showed that market benefits are derived from customer satisfaction and a company's internal quality improvement.

The small sample size of the food companies participating in this study, the observed variables that were removed from the analysis for the benefit of the measurement model validity (convergent and discriminant) and finally the subjective character of the data collected are the limitations of the present study. However, these limitations suggest future research orientations.

The determination of reliable and valid latent constructs/factors of the TQM practices implemented may help food companies to focus their efforts in specific directions, in order to build and implement a robust TQM model. Furthermore, detecting reliable and valid latent constructs/factors of the results achieved through TQM practices implementation may motivate the food companies to strengthen their efforts in broadening their management system towards the TQM philosophy and business excellence. This may help food companies withstand the current business downturn.

The paper describes in a reliable and valid manner a framework that consists of the main pillars of the TQM practices implemented and the results achieved in a specific sector: the food sector.

The purpose of the population‐based study in the paper is to report on progress in formulating instruments to measure children's resilience and associated protective factors in family, primary school and community contexts.

In this paper a total of 2,794 students, 1,558 parents/caregivers, and 465 staff were surveyed in October 2003. A cross‐sectional research method was used for the data collection. Three surveys (student survey, parent/caregiver survey, and staff survey) were developed and modified to measure student resilience and associated protective factors. Exploratory factor analysis with Oblimin rotation and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyse the reliability and validity of the scales of the three surveys.

The surveys in this paper find good construct validity and internal consistency for the social support scale of parent/caregiver survey, which had been modified from previous studies. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a goodness of fit for the following scales: student resilience scale of the student survey; the school organisation and climate scale and family functioning scale of the parent/caregiver survey; and the health‐promoting school scale and social capital scale of the staff survey.

The paper specifies aspects of the resilience concept within a holistic or socio‐ecological setting. Measures of validity and reliability indicate that these instruments have the sensitivity to elucidate the complexity of both the resilience concept and the intricacy of working within the multi‐layered world of the school environment.

This paper provides health educators and researchers with reliable and valid resilience measures, which can be used as guidelines in implementing evaluation programmes for the health‐promoting school project and the prevention of mental health problems in children.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of brand familiarity on the various dimensions of brand experience, and to identify the factor structure of brand familiarity for financial services brands.

This study used a convenience sampling technique by contacting 216 respondents, and examined the relationship between brand experience dimensions and brand familiarity. An independent sample t-test was performed to assess the differences for brand experience dimensions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for both low familiarity and high familiarity service brands to highlight the differences.

The improvement in brand familiarity is positive for sensory, emotional, behavioral and relational brand experiences for high familiarity service brands. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis found a four-factor brand experience model for low brand familiarity and a five-factor brand experience structure for high familiarity financial services brands. The study of financial services brands validates the service brand experience framework of Nysveen et al. (2013) for high familiarity brands, but not for low familiarity financial services brand.

There is a need for marketers to comprehend various dimensions of brand experience in the context of financial services brands which are experiencing increased competition with non-banks.

The study makes a contribution to the existing literature as the concept of brand familiarity and its relationship with brand experience have received scant attention in the past.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the factor structure of the equity preference questionnaire (EPQ).

Individual level data are collected from two samples (n₁=382, n₂=455) and subjected to confirmatory factor analysis of an a priori two‐factor structure for equity sensitivity. Sample two is randomly split and one half subjected to structural equation modeling.

Superior fit in both samples is found for a two‐factor structure compared to a one‐factor structure. Additionally, in sample two empathy, positive affectivity, and feminine gender role identity related differentially to the factors of entitlement and benevolence.

Samples are comprise of college students. However, the average level of full‐time work experience (sample one 45.6 percent > 1 year, sample two mean 23.57 months) is large and the racial groups in sample two are diverse (76 percent non‐white). Additionally, the data are collected cross‐sectionally so causality cannot be inferred.

Entitlement and benevolence seem to be two different components of equity sensitivity. Thus, people can be high or low on one or both by choosing different comparison others in different situations.

Previous research has not used a confirmatory framework to analyze the EPQ, but rather it focuse on the relationship between scores on the EPQ and other variables or used exploratory factor analysis.

The purpose of this study is to identify the underlying dimensions of trustworthiness of financial service providers in the Indian retail banking sector and to model trustworthiness as a set of second‐order factors. The study replicates and extends the work of Ennew and Sekhon in the Indian context.

Using the trustworthiness scale developed by Ennew and Sekhon this study identifies six first‐order factors of trustworthiness for retail bankers in India using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Then the study modeled trustworthiness as a set of three second‐order factors using second‐order confirmatory factor analysis.

The first‐order factors obtained for trustworthiness of retail bankers are customer orientation, integrity and honesty, communication and similarity, shared values, expertise, and ability and consistency. The second‐order confirmatory factor analysis resulted in three higher order factors namely, competency, openness and benevolence.

The various dimensions of trustworthiness should be viewed as levers for improving a bank's trustworthiness in the minds of its current customers. At the same time, these dimensions will help them in reflecting an image of trustworthiness in the minds of its potential customers. Establishment of trustworthiness as an element of corporate image will provide competitive advantage to the service firms and improve their financial performance.

The research tests for the reliability and validity of the trustworthiness scale of Ennew and Sekhon. This study provides a window to the dimensions on which retail bank customers in an emerging economy such as India perceive a retail bank's trustworthiness. Furthermore, this study is an attempt to model trustworthiness as a set of second‐order factors.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and validity of the knowledge management assessment instrument (KMAI) developed by Lawson (2003) that consists of 24 items.

The study involved 225 research scholars and 225 faculties’ members from nine higher educational institutions. The respondents were required to respond to a five-point Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The collected data were then analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 software packages. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted earlier than performing a confirmatory factor analysis.

All constructs revealed the acceptable internal consistency reliability. A good model fit was found for the measurement model using several fit index tests like CMINDF, TLI, GFI AGFI, CFI and RMSEA. The findings showed that all fit indices criteria were accomplished. It also showed the acceptable reliability and construct validity.

KMAI was examined using confirmatory factor analysis only. A large sample size and sample area can be used.

This research paper is an endeavor to explore only the reliability and validity of the KMAI. Thus all the three dimensions, namely, “knowledge application”, “knowledge acquisition and creation” and “knowledge storing and sharing” proved out to be reliable and validate when it will be tested in case of any Indian higher educational institutions.

The main contributions of this study is that all the factors have good acceptable reliability value; each factor can be measured individually depending on the nature of the research.

This research aims to add to the literature on Academic Optimism, a composite measure composed of teacher perceptions of trust in students, academic press, and collective efficacy by exploring a similar set of constructs from the student perceptive. The relationships between student trust in teachers, student perceptions of academic press, and student identification with school were examined as well as how they were individually and collectively related to student achievement in the schools in an urban school district.

This study assessed the perceptions of students in 49 elementary, middle, and high schools in one urban district. The measures used included the Student Trust in Teachers Survey (Adams and Forsyth), the Identification with School Questionnaire (Voelkl), and an adaptation of Academic Press (Hoy, Hannum and Tschannen‐Moran). Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to explore whether these three observed variables would form a latent variable called Student Academic Optimism. Finally, the relationship of Academic Optimism to student achievement, controlling for SES, was examined using SEM.

Strong and significant relationships were found between all three of the observed variables. A CFA analysis confirmed that they formed a latent variable the authors called Student Academic Optimism. Student Academic Optimism had a significant direct effect on student achievement (b=0.73, p<0.01) while SES (percent of students eligible for the free and reduced lunch program) had a significant negative effect on student achievement (b=−0.37, p<0.01). Together student academic optimism and SES explained 67 percent of the variance in student achievement with student academic optimism making the largest contribution to the explanation.

The findings that Student Academic Optimism was unrelated to SES and that Student Academic Optimism has a significant effect on achievement over and above the effects of SES and student demographic characteristics leads the authors to consider the possibility that SES may not be as influential as once thought when other conditions of the school environment are taken into consideration.

This study makes a unique contribution to the literature by focusing on the perspectives of students and by linking the measures of three important dynamics within schools to form a new construct: Student Academic Optimism.