RIS ID
91227
Abstract
Many research questions in studies on environmental practices have used variables with little regard as to whether they represent theoretical constructs. This validation is fundamental to testing and interpreting theories using variables. This study examines whether environmental disclosure, environmental performance, and economic performance are different constructs. It uses canonical correlation analysis technique, and reviews two published studies as case presentations. Analyzing the study by Al-Tuwaijri et al., the environmental disclosure variable is found to represent the disclosure construct, while the environmental performance and economic performance variables are found to represent two dimensions of the performance construct. In the Hasseldine et al. study, environmental performance is found to represent the performance construct. Results indicate that the two disclosure variables are uni-dimensional of the disclosure construct. These findings are supported by the main analysis and additional analysis undertaken for each study. This research demonstrates how the canonical correlation analysis technique can be used to test whether empirical variables represent expressed theoretical constructs before publishing findings. It also shows a unique way to review published studies to develop and analyze research questions not examined in the original work.
Publication Details
Abeysekera, I. (2014). Secondary analysis of two environmental practice studies. Do empirical variables represent expressed theoretical constructs?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 15, 7-17.