Same Model, Same Data, But Different Outcomes: Evaluating the Impact of Method Choices in Structural Equation Modeling

Autor(en)

Marko Sarstedt, Susanne J. Adler, Christian M. Ringle, Gyeongcheol Cho, Adamantios Diamantopoulos, Heungsun Hwang, Benjamin D. Liengaard

Abstrakt

Scientific research demands robust findings, yet variability in results persists due to researchers' decisions in data analysis. Despite strict adherence to state-of theart methodological norms, research results can vary when analyzing the same data. This article aims to explore this variability by examining the impact of researchers' analytical decisions when using different approaches to structural equation modeling (SEM), a widely used method in innovation management to estimate cause–effect relationships between constructs and their indicator variables. For this purpose, we invited SEM experts to estimate a model on absorptive capacity's impact on organizational innovation and performance using different SEM estimators. The results show considerable variability in effect sizes and significance levels, depending on the researchers' analytical choices. Our research underscores the necessity of transparent analytical decisions, urging researchers to acknowledge their results' uncertainty, to implement robustness checks, and to document the results from different analytical workflows. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations and guidelines on how to address results variability. Our findings, conclusions, and recommendations aim to enhance research validity and reproducibility in innovation management, providing actionable and valuable insights for improved future research practices
that lead to solid practical recommendations.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Marketing und International Business

Externe Organisation(en)

James Cook University, Ohio State University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Babeș-Bolyai University, McGill University, Aarhus University, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH)

Journal

Journal of Product Innovation Management

Seiten

1-17

Anzahl der Seiten

17

ISSN

0737-6782

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12738

Publikationsdatum

04-2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Strategy and Management, Management of Technology and Innovation

Link zum Portal

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/de/publications/same-model-same-data-but-different-outcomes-evaluating-the-impact-of-method-choices-in-structural-equation-modeling(234d5025-151a-4fd0-8a51-29a737f1681a).html