Reference no: EM132558721
Description of the term project: Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)
Term Project: Structural equation model application and equivalent models identification.
Description of the term project:
Required: Please identify and describe the structural equation model for the below research's hypotheses and variables.
Identify the equivalent models for the model already selected and explain why you selected one model instead of the equivalent models.
• Use your own words using APA style format.
• 600 words
RESEARCH PROJECT:
Research project purposes to assess the user side factors driving the mobile financial services revolution in sub-Sharan Africa, specifically in Uganda under the topic: "Adoption of Mobile Financial Services in Uganda: A structural equation modeling approach." The study aims at investigating the key factors that influences the consumers' acceptance and use of mobile financial services in Uganda using key constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. The study purposes to apply Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze and evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relationships, if any, among the constructs, which include; Customer expectancy (CE), Transaction Cost (TC) and Social Factors (SF) as independent variables, and Behavior Intention to Use (BIU) as the dependent variable, which will impact on customer adoptation of the services (CAS).
It is important to state beforehand that, the analysis in this research shall be conducted in three stages: (i) hypnotizing of the theoretical model, (ii) determination of the overall fit of data to the model, and (iii) evaluation of the specific parameters of the proposed model. However, cognisance needs to be taken of the fact that a variety of problems might be encountered at each of these stages and the existence of potential equivalent and equivalent models is one of them. Equivalent models can be generally defined as a set of models that, regardless of the data, yield identical; (a) implied covariance, correlation and other observed variable moment matrices when fit to the same data, (b) residuals and fitted moment matrices, and (c) fit function and related goodness-of-fit indices (e.g., chi-square and p values). Meanwhile, equivalent models, there may also be near-equivalent models that do not generate the exact same predicted covariances, but nearly so.
Model equivalence is a generic term that could refer to one of several specific situations of equivalence. McDonald & HO, (2002), Raykov and Penev (1999) have proposed a taxonomy that can be used to distinguish among several di?erent types of model equivalence. Two models are considered observationally equivalent only if one model can generate every probability distribution that the other model can generate. On the other hand, observational equivalence is model equivalence in the broadest sense and can be shown using data of any type. In contrast, models are considered covariance equivalent if every covariance matrix generated by one model can be generated by the other. For the purposes of this study, the term equivalent or near equivalent is used Specifcally to refer to models that are covariance equivalent, as well as globally equivalent and those models that do not generate the exact same predicted covariances, but nearly so.
Therefore, although it is true that over-identified structural equation models have testable implications, those implications are only one part of what a model represents: a set of claims, assumptions, and implications. Thus, equivalent models can cause damage by not only o?ering false causal relations; they might also lead one to accept their equally false implications.
Discussion
To begin with, there are two general categories of strategies for approaching the problem of equivalent and near equivalent models that have been considered in a research literature. This can either be before data collection or after data collection. In this research sty, we shall try and detect models that are equivalent or near equivalent to the research theoretical model before we can spend a hefty amount of resources on the research project.
In the context of this study, the research model is made up of five constructs and each construct was measured using multiple measurement items adapted from existing literature but modified to reflect the research context of using mobile technologies for mobile financial services. The initial model is developed through modification of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTUAT) model of Venkatesh et al., (2003).
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Please scrutinize the model and present the proposed research model in an acceptable SEM model format.
• The research intends to benchmark the attached study, kindly reformat and present in an acceptable manner that avoids plagiarism.
• Identify at least 2-3 equivalent models for the study and explain why you selected one model instead of the equivalent models.
Required: Please identify and describe the structural equation model for the attached researchs hypotheses and variables.
Identify the equivalent models for the model already selected and explain why you selected one model instead of the equivalent models.
Use your own words using APA style format.
600 words
Attachment:- Structural Equation Modelling.rar