Jeffrey E. Danes

Unidimensional measurement and structural equation models with latent variables

Abstract This article considers various methods for constructing sets of multiple indicators that measures one and only one trait, i.e., unidimensional measurement. The article compares two procedures for constructing unidimensional measures: the modification index and tests designed specifically for assessing unidimensionality. The specific tests were shown to work better than the modification indices.

The effect of power sources on compliance in a channel of distribution: A causal model

Abstract In the typical day-to-day business operation in a channel of distribution, more powerful channel members make requests of less powerful channel members. An interesting and heretofore unexamined question is: What factors affect the probability that the less powerful channel member will comply with the wishes of the more powerful channel member? This study investigates the question above in a manufacturer-manufacturers representative channel of distribution. The authors develop unidimensional measures of sources of power and demonstrate the effect each source has on compliance. In addition, the manufacturers representatives desire for autonomy and the importance the representative places on the decision variable that is being influenced are hypothesized to be negatively related with the representatives probability of complying with the wishes of the manufacturer. Finally, original theory is extended through the use of LISREL V modification indices.

A three‐stage model of consumer relationship investment

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the sources of consumer‐brand relationship investment, specifically isolating the sources and outcomes of communality and exchange relationship characteristics.Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes a survey‐based empirical study and subsequent structural modeling approach to test a series of hypotheses concerning how brand performance perceptions influence the development of consumer relationship connections.Findings – The paper finds that perceptions of product performance and service quality influence the development of brand reliability and brand fidelity respectively. Similarly, brand reliability is the primary source of an exchange orientation, while brand fidelity leads to communal brand connections and, ultimately, consumer‐brand relationship investment.Research limitations/implications – This research is limited by the scope of the sample, fast food restaurants. Future research should explore consumer relationship investment in other product and serv...

A mixed‐methods approach for designing market‐driven packaging

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a web‐based virtual ideation tool, dialogr.com, can be used to capture insights from consumers and to gain an understanding of consumer satisfaction with package design during and after product use. The authors also demonstrate how the resulting rich qualitative data can be combined with output from traditional survey research, to provide insight into the impact of satisfaction with package design on purchase intent.Design/methodology/approach – A mixed‐methods approach was employed that captured qualitative insights from a large number of consumers regarding their experience using product packaging and combined the quantitative rigor of survey research to capture brand familiarity and perceptions, as well as brand preference and loyalty.Findings – Results demonstrate that design is important to consumers and also that consumers are increasingly design literate. The perceived quality of the package design does impact brand evaluation. Negative reac...

Brand image associations for large virtual groups

Purpose – As an aid to understanding brand image and brand attitude, this paper aims to present an innovative method of capturing qualitative brand associations from very large virtual groups.Design/methodology/approach – From the target market, two familiar brands were selected: one more favored and one less favored by the market segment. Two samples of respondents engaged in a collaborative, virtual ideation session designed to elicit “top of mind” brand associations for two fast food brands, McDonalds and In‐N‐Out. Members of each group posted their brand associations and then rated each others associations on the basis of agreement.Findings – Analysis provided by dialogr.com showed sharp differences between the two brand images. To independently assess brand attitude, two judges evaluated favorability of the free associations as either “good,” “neutral,” or “bad.” The results confirmed initial expectations. The more favored brand received considerably more favorable free associations than did the le...

Effect of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) content on properties of extruded poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheets

Sixty (60) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets containing 0—100% recycled-PET (RPET) bottle flake were produced using industrial extruders. The PET/RPET sheets were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet— visible spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and inductively coupled plasma—atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP—AES). The absorbance at 350 nm, %crystallinity, crystallization temperature, and crystallization peak offset were found to be both unaffected by a silicone mold release coating and reasonably valid indicators of %RPET. Mechanical testing determined that incorporating recycled content into virgin resin will significantly alter the composite mechanical properties; analysis indicated that there was approximately a 2-, 3-, and 30-MPa increase in stress at the proportional limit, stress at yield, and Young’s modulus, respectively, in the machine direction at 40% RPET concentration when compared to virgin resin. The ICP—AES determined that PET/RPET sheets can be safely used for food packaging as according to California Health and Safety Code.

Migration of heavy metals from recycled polyethylene terephthalate during storage and microwave heating

Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry are pushing for increased use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Packaging materials made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate are used for direct food contact in recycled rigid containers and films. Most recycled polyethylene terephthalate packaging materials contain heavy metal catalysts, the most common being antimony. The recycling process has the potential to increase degradation products, chemical additives and polymerization side-products. Recent studies using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry confirmed the presence of cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and antimony in food packaging. These heavy metals have the potential to migrate onto and into food products, and limited governmental regulation of these contaminants in recycled polyethylene terephthalate packaging materials increases public health risks. In this study, 22 samples of known heavy metal content were tested for heavy metal migration of lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and antimony into a 5% aqueous citric acid solution or deionized water. Samples were exposed for 5 min to microwaves from a 1700 W microwave oven set to 70% power, or were stored at 7.2 or 22.2℃ for 1, 7 or 14 days before testing. The samples were analyzed for heavy metal content per ASTM E1613-04, the standard test method for the determination of lead by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Neither the storage nor the microwave treatments had a significant effect on heavy metal migration, while exposure to 5% aqueous citric acid resulted in a higher rate of heavy metal leaching from the recycled polyethylene terephthalate compared to samples exposed to deionized water. A very low percentage of the samples tested had heavy metals migrate above detectable levels indicating that most recycled polyethylene terephthalate packaging materials are relatively safe for direct food contact.

Expected product price as a function of factors of price sensitivity

Purpose – This paper presents a model relating Nagle and Holdens factors of price sensitivity to expected price and willingness to pay. This work presents various perspectives on price elasticity/sensitivity, empirically tests aspects of the influence of perception of the offer (product/service) on expected price, and illustrates how the pricing methods developed within provide quantitative precision to the practice of price setting by capturing perceptions important to consumers.Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a within‐subjects design to study four brands in two product categories, automobiles and computers. Model evaluation employs ordinary least squares regression.Findings – Ten qualitative factors were studied. Overall, the results show four factors predict expected price for the target market, product and brand. The factors are perceived substitutes, quality, fairness, and unique value.Originality/value – This research makes the following contributions. First, the authors are able to ...

Sensor array for the detection of organic and inorganic contaminants in post-consumer recycled plastics for food contact

ABSTRACT Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic material is made by collecting used plastic products (e.g., bottles and other plastic packaging materials) and reprocessing them into solid-state pellets or flakes. Plastic recycling has positive environmental benefits, but may also carry potential drawbacks due to unwanted organic and inorganic contaminants. These contaminants can migrate into food packaging made from these recycled plastic materials. The purpose of this research was to identify economically viable real-time monitoring technologies that can be used during the conversion of virgin and recycled resin feedstocks (i.e., various blends of virgin pellets and recycled solid-state pellet or mechanically ground flake) to final articles to ensure the safety, quality and sustainability of packaging feedstocks. Baseline analysis (validation) of real-time technologies was conducted using industry-standard practices for polymer analysis. The data yielded supervised predictive models developed by training sessions completed in a controlled laboratory setting. This technology can be employed to evaluate compliance and aid converters in commodity sourcing of resin without exceeding regulatory thresholds. Furthermore, this technology allowed for real-time decision and diversion strategies during the conversion of resin and flake to final articles or products to minimise the negative impact on human health and environmental exposure. Graphical Abstract

Power and Compliance: An Investigation in a Channel Behavior Setting

In a channel of distribution, a successful influence attempt results in the target complying with the wishes of the source. This article investigates the relationship between the target’s perception of the sources’s power bases, the target’s desire for autonomy, and the importance the target places on the decision variable that is being influenced, and the target’s probability of complying when the source uses a request influence strategy. More specifically, this article presents the results of an ploratory model of compliance in a manufacturer/ manufacturer’s representative channel of distribution.