By following Prahinski’s (2001) procedure, about 20% of the survey items (11 out of

51) were randomly drawn and an independent sample t-test was conducted on each
item (early n=154 and late n=108) for assessing non-response bias. Table 4.2
illustrates the t-test results and it reveals that there is no significant difference
between early and late responses.

4.2.8 Analysis of Data

The data extracted from the cross-section of importing firms have been analysed in
Chapter 5 and in Chapter 6 to test the construct measures and to test the hypotheses
set forth in the conceptual model. The adopted construct measures require
measurement of scale reliability and validity. Relevant descriptive statistics of the
sample are reported in Chapter 5. Measurement model in the Structural Equation
Modeling (SEM) technique is used for the confirmatory factor analysis using Amos
version 5 followed by specification and estimation of the models (Schumacker and
Lomax, 1996).
Md._Abu_Saleh_Thesis 2006
As it signifies, SEM is a powerful quantitative data analytical technique which
estimates and tests theoretical relationships between/among latent and/or observed
variables and also combines regression and factor analysis (Tabachnick and Fidell,
1996). SEM is also a path analytical method for handling multiple relationships and
assessing relationships from exploratory analysis to confirmatory analysis (Hair et al.,
1992). It has also been used in similar studies toward examining causal impact of the
predictors of buyer/importer commitment (Coote et al., 2003; Skarmeas et al., 2002).
This program estimates a series of causal relationships and shows parameter estimates
as well as path links among variables in the conceptual model. SEM also estimates
multiple regression equations simultaneously through specifying the structural model.
This likewise allows modeling with latent variables through modeling the
measurement errors that may be associated with observed indicators
(Wickramasekera, 1998). Therefore, despite some limitations, SEM is used as a
significant tool for testing the proposed and competing models in Chapter 5.

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