Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1972 Causal and path model analysis of the organizational characteristics of civil defense system Simon Wen-Lon Tai Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Tai, Simon Wen-Lon, "Causal and path model analysis of the organizational characteristics of civil defense system " (1972). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 5280. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/5280 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company 72-26,945 TAI, Simon Wen-Ion, 1938- CAUSAL AND PATH MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CIVIL DEFENSE SYSTEM. Iowa State University, Ph.D., 1972 Sociology, general University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan T-vxr.(->T^nrriArrT/-\AT IIAO D-CCM AiTrnnCTT AfCTl THYATTTV AC DPCPTUTH Causal and pa It) model analysis of the organizational characteristics of civil defense system by S imon Wen-Ion Ta i A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department: Sociology and Anthropology Major: Sociology Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. in Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Graduate College Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1972 PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION I Why the Organizational Study 1 Conceptual Model and Methodology 2 Past Civil Defense Studies and the Uniqueness of the Present Study 5 Importance of the Research Problem 6 Research Objectives 7 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND CAUSATION 9 The Definition of Organization 9 Theory of Organizations 11 Causal Thinking in Sociology 23 Simon-Blalock Causa! Ordering 25 CHAPTER III. FORMULATION OF CONCEPTS AND CONCEPTUAL MODELS 29 The Dependent Variable 30 Goal attainment of civil defense organizations 30 The Independent Variables 33 Interorganizationa1 relations 33 I ntraorganizationa1 coordination 35 Institutionalization 36 Communication 37 Representation 40 Complexity 41 Size 43 Fac i1i ty 46 Additional Variables for Linear Regression Model 48 Bui Wings Norms 48 Morale 49 Sanct ion 50 Selectivity 50 I I I Page SocializaL ion 31 Ecology 52 CHAPTER IV. METHODOLOGY 54 Operational Definition of Concepts 54 Goal attainment 54 Interorganizationa] relations 55 IntraorganizationaI coordination 56 Institutionalization 58 Communicat ion 61 Complexity 64 Representation 65 Size 65 Facility 65 Norms 66 Morale 67 Sanct ions 67 Selectivity 68 Socia1ization 69 Ecology 70 Factor Analysis 71 Path Analysis 76 Path coefficients and path model 77 Path coefficient 77 Some properties of path coefficient 79 Types of path models 81 The basic theorems of path analysis 86 Recursive system of equations 86 Tt.e basic theorem of path analysis 87 Tracing connecting paths 90 The total indirect effect and residual path 33 coefficient Basic assumptions of path analysis 94 CHAPTER V. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 96 Introduction 96 Research Population and Samples 97 i V P.igu Correlation Matrix and Factor Analysis 98 Correlation coefficients for variables in the study 98 Factor analysis of the dependent variable 102 Path Coefficients and Path Model Testing 110 Recursive system of equations with standardized variables 110 Assumption for computing path coefficients 113 Analysis of variance for equations in the causal mode I 113 Computing of path coefficients in the theoretically formulated model 114 Evaluation of Path Model 118 Test of significant paths 118 Total effects, total indirect effects and residual path coefficients 120 The final model 128 Search for the Best Set of Explaining Variables 130 Completely specified model 132 Incompletely specified model 137 Unspecified model 143 CHAPTER VI. IMPLICATIONS 149 Implication for Real World Problems 149 Implication for Sociological Inquiry 152 CHAPTER VII. SUMMARY 157 Introduction 157 Organization Theory and Causality 157 Formulation of Concepts and Conceptual Model 159 Methodology, Data Analysis and Findings 159 Implication 164 BIBLIOGRAPHY 166 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 174 Page APPENDIX A. THE NAMES OF 23 FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS 175 APPENDIX B. THE NAMES OF 20 GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS 176 APPENDIX C. NORMS 177 APPENDIX D. SANCTION 178 APPENDIX E. SELECTIVITY 180. APPENDIX F. SOCIALIZATION IB] 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Why the Organizational Study It seems quite reasonable to state that each branch of social science deals with a distinctive subject matter. In discussing sociology and other related disciplines, Inkeles (1964) delineates the following branches of social science: Economics which is the study of the production and distri­ bution of goods and services, Political science which deals with political theory and government administration, and Psychology which concerns the mental process, motivation, and personality. He further proposes that the subject matter of sociology is society, institutions (including organiza­ tions), and social relationships. In many past sociological investigations, efforts have been devoted to the empirical study of social relationships using the individual as the unit of analysis. Or, attention has been centered on the theoretical study of the whole society as the unit of analysis. For instance, the study of husband-wife relationships focuses on individuals as units of analysis. The organismic evolution of society or equilibrium theories are some exam­ ples of grand theories concerning whole societies as units of analysis. If unit of analysis is used as a criterion to distinguish the level of abstrac­ tion of sociological study, then the studies of individuals, organizations, and whole societies may be placed on a continuum of increasing abstraction. It is the author's opinion that the accumulated knowledge from past empirical researches on social relationships of individuals has provided a base for sociologists to move forward to the study of more complex groups and organizations. The difficulties encountered in developing grand 2 theories should be an indication that more studies on organizations, which constitute modern society, are needed before using whole societies as units of analysis in sociological study. As one leading sociologist has suggested: Organizations provide a setting within which many basic social processes occut—processes as diverse as socialization, communi­ cation, ranking, the formation of norms, deviance, or social con­ trol,..The study of organizations, then can contribute to the building of social theory by providing descriptive accounts and analytical formulations of generic social processes as they are modified by distinctive structural arrangements. (Scott, 1964: 486.) Tiie author believes that sociologists should allocate more attention and effort in the study of organizations at the present stage of their disci­ pline. Based on the above rationale, efforts are made in the present study to utilize local civil defense organizations as the unit of analysis. Conceptual Model and Methodology In the present study units of