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TEST FOR NORMALITY OF THE SCORES
Considering that a Lickert scale was used as part of the questionnaire to structure the respondents’ responses, it is clear that variables emanating directly from this process cannot be normally distributed. Yet, as Steffens (Personal communication, June 23, 2014) as part of Chapter 8 points out, in accordance with the central limit theorem, means of variables tend to be normally distributed even though the variables themselves are not. To confirm that this is also the case in this study, a One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test on the scores, ie the mean of all the answers supplied in the section by the respondent, was conducted. In the case of Section D, two respondents did not supply answers and scores could not be computed. In all other cases a score was obtained. The result of the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is provided below as part of Table 9.36.
PEARSON CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF THE SECTION SCORES OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Given that as indicated under point 8.4.7.1.1.2 the score calculated for each respondent, ie the mean of all the answers supplied in the section by the respondent, meets all the requirements outlined by Nunnally (1978:16) as well as Lunenburg & Irby (2008:77) for the use of parametric statistics, it is possible to perform a Pearson correlation analysis on the section scores of the questionnaire.
In accordance with Tabachnick & Fidell (1983:379) the Pearson correlation analysis allows for the verification of the appropriateness of the use of factor analysis as part of the study. Still further, the Pearson correlation analysis indicates if the eight general principles forming the conceptual framework of the scientific model presented as part of Circle 3 of the Mitroff model are positively correlated to one another to a statistically high significant level and also, if they are significantly interconnected with one another. As such answering the second research question:
Research Question 2: What is the strength of the relationships between the general principles of the financial value decision-making model?
Using the correlation analysis to assess the relationships among the eight general principles of the model, it allowed the researcher to test the first hypothesis (H1) of the research study:
H1: The interrelationships between the eight general principles of the financial value decision-making model which forms the conceptual framework of the model are significantly positively correlated.
As indicated, as part of the Pearson correlation analysis provided as part of Table 9.38 the minimum correlation coefficient among the scores amounted to .349, indicating, as stipulated by Tabachnick & Fidell (1983:379) that, within this context, the use of factor analysis is appropriate.
PRINCIPAL AXIS FACTORING
Given the above affirmation for the use of factor analysis on the scores, a factor extraction is done in order to determine the smallest number of factors that can be used to best represent the interrelations among the set of variables. Making use of the standard procedures of the Statistics Department of the University of Pretoria, Principal Axis Factoring is used as extraction method. In addition, Kaiser’s criterion is used whereby, as Pallant (2007:182) points out, only factors with an eigenvalue of 1.0 or more are retained for further investigation.
As is clearly visible from Table 9.41, only factor 1 and 2 exceeded Kaiser’s minimum requirements with the third eigenvalue amounting to 0.486. Still further, using Varimax with an Orthogonal Rotation technique as outlined by Tabachnick & Fidel (1983:399), the factors are rotated in order to, as Pallant (2007:183) reflects, present the patterns of loadings in a manner that is easier to interpret.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4 THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED STUDY
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.6 LIMITATIONS
1.7 ASSUMPTIONS
1.8 REVIEW OF KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RESEARCH TOPIC
1.9. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
1.10 OUTLINE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY
CHAPTER 2 ONTOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE BEHOLDER AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 THE REAL ONTOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR VALUE
2.3 COMING TO A BELIEF – PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR VALUE IMPLICATIONS
2.4 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 3 UNFOLDING THE ORIGIN, PURPOSE AND ROLE OF THE PROCESS OF BEHOLDING VALUE FROM WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE MATERIAL WORLD
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 MAKING THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS VISIBLE FROM WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE MATERIAL WORLD
3.3 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 4 THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS AND ITS ROLE DURING PRE- AND POST-AWARENESS IN FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS AND ITS ROLE DURING CONSCIOUS UNAWARENESS
4.3 FROM UNAWARENESS TO AWARENESS – BRIDGING THE DIVIDE
4.4 THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS AND ITS ROLE DURING CONSCIOUS AWARENESS
4.5 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 5 A PERSONAL THEORY OF VALUE: TOWARDS GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 TOWARDS GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR A CONCEPTUAL MODEL
5.3 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 6 ACCOUNTING VALUATIONS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS INCREASING THE QUALITY AND USEFULNESS OF INFORMATION FOR FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 ACCOUNTING’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS: THE TRANSFORMATION OF ACCOUNTING FROM A PURELY COST-BASED RECORDER TOWARDS A VALUE- ORIENTATED REPORTER OF INFORMATION
6.3 ACCOUNTING VALUATIONS IN FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING
6.4 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 7 THE CONCEPTUAL FINANCIAL VALUE DECISION-MAKING MODEL
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS
7.3 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
8.1 INTRODUCTION
8.2 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
8.3 MODELS – AUTONOMOUS AGENTS IN SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY AND ENQUIRY
8.4 THE MITROFF MODEL
8.5 CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
8.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 9 FINDINGS
9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.2 SOCIODEMOGRAPHICS OF THE PARTICIPANTS
9.3 UNIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE STATEMENTS
9.4 BIVARIATE ANALYSIS (CORRELATION ANALYSIS) OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF THE FINANCIAL VALUE DECISION-MAKING MODEL
9.5 MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
9.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 10 TOWARDS A SCIENTIFIC MODEL OF THE BEHOLDING OF VALUE PROCESS FOR FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING
10.1 INTRODUCTION
10.2 ACTIVITY 2: MODELING
10.3 CIRCLE 3: TOWARDS A SCIENTIFIC MODEL
10.4 ACTIVITY 3: MODEL SOLVING
10.5 CIRCLE 4: SOLUTION
10.6 ACTIVITY 5: FEEDBACK IN THE NARROW SENSE
10.7 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 11 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
11.1 INTRODUCTION
11.2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
11.3 CONCLUSION
11.4 SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY
11.5 RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
11.6 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
REFERENCES
