Measurement Equivalence Using Generalizability Theory: An Examination of Manufacturing Flexibility Dimensions

As the field of decision sciences in general and operations management in particular has matured from theory building to theory testing over the past two decades, it has witnessed an explosion in empirical research. Much of this work is anchored in survey‐based methodologies in which data are collected from the field in the form of scale items that are then analyzed to measure latent unobservable constructs. It is important to assess the invariance of scales across groups in order to reach valid, scientifically sound conclusions. Because studies have often been conducted in the field of decision sciences with small sample sizes, it further exacerbates the problem of reaching incorrect conclusions. Generalizability theory can more effectively test for measurement equivalence in the presence of small sample sizes than the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tests that have been conventionally used for assessing measurement equivalency across groups. Consequently, we introduce and explain the generalizability theory (G‐theory) in this article to examine measurement equivalence of 24 manufacturing flexibility dimension scales that have been published in prior literature and also compare and contrast G‐theory with CFA. We show that all the manufacturing flexibility scales tested in this study were invariant across the three industry SIC groups from which data were collected. We strongly recommend that G‐theory should always be used for determining measurement equivalence in empirical survey‐based studies. In addition, because using G‐theory alone does not always reveal the complete picture, CFA techniques for establishing measurement equivalence should also be invoked when sample sizes are large enough to do so. Implications of G‐theory for practice and its future use in operations management and decision sciences research are also presented.     

Simultaneous estimation of ordered parameters

The problem of estimating ordered parameters is encountered in biological, agricultural, reliability and various other experiments. Consider two populations with densities f₁(x₁-ω₁) and f₂(x₂-ω₂) where ω₁#ω₂. The estimation of ω₁,ω₂) with the loss function, the sum of squared errors, is studied. when f_i is the f_i(,_i,,_i ²) density with ,_i known, i=1,2; we obtain a class of minimax estimators. When ω₁ #ω₂ we show some of these estimators are improved by the maximum likelihood estimator. For a general f_i we give sufficient conditions for the minimaxity of the analogue of the Pitman estimator.     

The distribution of the product of two independent generalized trapezoidal random variables

ABSTRACT

In this article, we derive the probability density function (pdf) of the product of two independent generalized trapezoidal random variables having different supports, in closed form, by considering all possible cases. We also show that the results for the product of two triangular and uniform random variables follow as special cases of our main result. As an illustration, we obtain pdf of product for a suitably constrained set of parameters and plot some graphs using MATLAB, which express variation in pdf with change in different parameters of the generalized trapezoidal distribution.     

How are Time-Dependent Childbearing Intentions Realized? Realization,Postponement, Abandonment,Bringing Forward

Our study aims to identify factors that facilitate or inhibit the realization of fertility intentions. The analysis uses data collected in the first two waves of a Hungarian longitudinal survey. Fertility intentions recorded at the first wave pertain to the subsequent 3-year period, just similar to the behavior variable measuring the realization of intentions, i.e., a birth within the 3-year period in question. For this analysis, we used the respondents’ demographic, socio-structural, and orientational traits recorded at the first interview. Our findings show that age, parity, and partnership play a determining role in the realization of fertility intentions, but employment status, religious affiliation, and overall life satisfaction all exhibit significant effects. A marked gender difference was detected not only with regard to employment status but in the area of values and orientations as well.     

Estimation of population mean on the most recent occasion under non response in h-occasion successive sampling using several auxiliary variables

In this article, general estimation procedures of population mean on the most recent occasion in the presence of non response on all occasions have been deduced in h-occasion successive sampling. In the estimation procedures, regression type estimators have been suggested with the aid of stable and mutually independent several auxiliary variables which are readily available only on the most recent occasion. To check the efficiency of the proposed estimators, they have been compared with similar estimator in absence of non response. Properties of the suggested estimation procedures have been studied and their empirical studies are carried out to validate the theoretical results. Suitable recommendations have been made.     

On length and area-biased Maxwell distributions

This article addresses the various properties and different methods of estimation of the unknown parameter of length and area-biased Maxwell distributions. Although, our main focus is on estimation from both frequentist and Bayesian point of view, yet, various mathematical and statistical properties of length and area-biased Maxwell distributions (such as moments, moment-generating function (mgf), hazard rate function, mean residual lifetime function, residual lifetime function, reversed residual life function, conditional moments and conditional mgf, stochastic ordering, and measures of uncertainty) are derived. We briefly describe different frequentist approaches, namely, maximum likelihood estimator, moments estimator, least-square and weighted least-square estimators, maximum product of spacings estimator and compare them using extensive numerical simulations. Next we consider Bayes estimation under different types of loss function (symmetric and asymmetric loss functions) using inverted gamma prior for the scale parameter. Furthermore, Bayes estimators and their respective posterior risks are computed and compared using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Also, bootstrap confidence intervals using frequentist approaches are provided to compare with Bayes credible intervals. Finally, a real dataset has been analyzed for illustrative purposes.     

Topp–Leone normal distribution with application to increasing failure rate data

In this article, we proposed a new three-parameter probability distribution, called Topp–Leone normal, for modelling increasing failure rate data. The distribution is obtained by using Topp–Leone-X family of distributions with normal as a baseline model. The basic properties including moments, quantile function, stochastic ordering and order statistics are derived here. The estimation of unknown parameters is approached by the method of maximum likelihood, least squares, weighted least squares and maximum product spacings. An extensive simulation study is carried out to compare the long-run performance of the estimators. Applicability of the distribution is illustrated by means of three real data analyses over existing distributions.     

Failure to Realize Fertility Intentions: A Key Aspect of the Post-communist Fertility Transition

Our paper focuses on the realization of fertility intentions, exploring a new aspect of the post-communist fertility transition. By making use of a follow-up study, it was possible to compare five European countries and to analyze the chances of realizing short-term, time-dependent fertility intentions. There is always a difference between intention and behavior. It is partly due to demographic and social factors, such as age, parity, partnership status, but once these are accounted for, important differences remain between western European and post-communist countries. In the period after the turn of the millennium, chances of realizing intentions are significantly lower in post-communist countries than in western European countries. The lower chance of realization is a consequence of social anomie originating from discrepancy between slow value shift and the increased dynamism of structural changes.