Two composite reliability measures, coefficient alpha and coefficient omega with unit weights (otherwise known as construct reliability), are commonly used in structural equations modeling. However, a third measure, omega with unequal weights, is more theoretically appropriate. The potential for bias in reliability estimation and for errors in item selection when alpha or unit-weighted omega are used are explored under a variety of simulated conditions. The results suggest that composite reliability may be used as an assessment tool, but should not be used as an item selection tool in structural equations modeling.
Charitable contribution requests including legitimization of paltry contributions or a large anchorpoint are examined. Results show that a large anchorpoint increases average contributions, legitimization of paltry contributions enhances compliance rates, and the combined use of a large anchorpoint and legitimization of paltry contributions does not significantly alter compliance or contribution sizes.A large body of literature has been devoted to the study of influences on compliance with requests for help, but researchers have focused little attention upon correspondingdegrees of help provided by compliant subjects. Because the effectiveness of any campaign to solicit help depends upon compliance rates and magnitudes of help, the focus of this article is upon both aspects. Compliance rates and degrees of response to requests including large anchorpoints, or legitimization of minima! assistance, or both, are compared with responses to simple, unspecified requests for monetary donations in a charitable solicitation context.
RESPONSE MAGNITUDESAfter exposure to requests for a contribution, each potential contributor probably forms a perception of some minimally socially acceptable anchorpoint against which candidate contribution amounts are compared. Amounts greater than that minimum anchor are regarded as generous, and amounts smaller than that minimum are regarded as unacceptable. As Ihe magnitude of that lower anchorpoint increases, the magnitude of contribution increases, but the probability of contribution decreases. If an anchorpoint is not included in the requestor's presentation, then the requestee infers an anchorpoint from prior experience.Large, specific requests should increase response magnitudes, because such requests provide a maxi-
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