The Importance of Specification in Casual Modeling: The Case of End-user Computing Satisfaction.

Author List: Chin, Wynne W.; Newsted, Peter R.;
Information Systems Research, 1995, Volume 6, Issue 1, Page 73.
In a survey of IS instruments spanning the years 1973 to 1988 (Zmud and Boynton 1991), Doll and Torkzadeh's (1988) 12-item End-User Computing Satisfaction instrument was reported as one of three IS instruments that met conditions to qualify as "well developed." Recently, Etezadi-Amoli and Farhoomand (1991) questioned the validity of these measures. Part of their critique centered on the poor model fit obtained in a re-analysis using LISREL. While other potentially valid points were raised by Etezadi-Amoli and Farhoomand's critique, this report focuses only on their use of confirmatory factor analysis. In our re-analyses of Doll and Torkzadeh's original covariance measures, we show how model fit is extremely dependent on model specification. While still maintaining the same number of constructs and respective measures, we demonstrate how two alternatives to the original model analyzed by Etezadi-Amoli and Farhoomand can result in models with acceptable fits.
Keywords: Causal modeling; End-user computing satisfaction; Model specification; Structure equation modeling
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#263 0.265 instrument measurement factor analysis measuring measures dimensions validity based instruments construct measure conceptualization sample reliability development develop responses assess use
#11 0.137 structural pls measurement modeling equation research formative squares partial using indicators constructs construct statistical models researchers latent analysis results sem
#248 0.132 computing end-user center support euc centers management provided users user services organizations end satisfaction applications article ibm step field policies
#17 0.098 empirical model relationships causal framework theoretical construct results models terms paper relationship based argue proposed literature issues assumptions provide suggest
#276 0.092 satisfaction information systems study characteristics data results using user related field survey empirical quality hypotheses important success various indicate tested
#291 0.058 local global link complex view links particularly need thought number supports efforts difficult previously linked achieving simple poor individual rise