Setting the Seed in Bootstrapping for Mediation in SEM

Bootstrapping is a technique where numerous samples with replacement are drawn in order to determine the confidence interval of an indirect effect. Every time you run a bootstrap, you have a different potential set of samples and your results could slightly change.When you request a sample of at least 5,000, these differences will be

Introduction to Moderation with SEM Model

Moderation is where the direct influence of an independent variable on a dependent variable is altered or changed because of a third variable.This third variable, called the “moderator”, can influ- ence the strength (and sometimes sign) of the relationship from the independent variable to the dependent variable. A moderator is said to “interact” with

Probing the Interaction for Moderation with SEM Model

In our moderation example, we can see that the interaction is significant and positive, but we do not know much else about the interaction or ultimately how the moderator influences the relationship from the independent variable to the dependent variable. Next, we can “probe the interaction”, which means we are going to explore how

Testing Moderation in a Full Structural Model

The previous examples describe how to test for moderation in a path model, or specifically, with composite variables. What if you want to test moderation in a full structural model? There are three different ways that moderation can be assessed in a full structural model. These three ways are (1) the mixed model method,

How Do I Present My Moderation Results of SEM Model?

When you are presenting results for a moderation test in a table format, it is a good idea to include the following results with the presentation of the structural regression weights of the constructs. There is no need to have a dedicated table for moderation when it can complement the structural results. Specifically, for

Mean Center vs. Z Score in Moderation Testing in SEM Model

Instead of creating a new variable where you are subtracting the variable’s mean, SPSS gives you another option to center the data by “standardizing” the indicators (or converting it to a Z score). With mean centering, you are changing the mean value, but the standard deviation and scale remain the same.This is not the

Moderation Testing With a Categorical Moderator in SEM Model

You can use a categorical variable as a moderator in AMOS. The way to test a categori- cal moderator is the exact same process used to perform a two group analysis that was discussed in Chapter 5. For instance, let’s say we have a categorical moderator that cap- tures the customer’s previous experience with

Calculating Categorical Moderation via Pairwise Parameter Comparison in SEM Model

With a categorical moderator, you can also assess moderation by a function called the pairwise parameter comparison in AMOS. With this method, you still have to form the groups and label the parameters, but you do not have to individually constrain the relationship of interest. The pairwise parameter comparison will show you all the

Moderated Mediation With a Continuous Moderator in SEM Model

In more complex models, you may have a mediation model that also has a moderator on one of the indirect paths. Not only are you trying to determine if mediation is present, but you are also trying to see if a moderator is changing the strength of the indirect effect.The easiest way to tackle

How Do I Report the Results of My Moderated Mediation Test with SEM?

There is a lot of information to present in a moderated mediation test. Here is one example of how to present your results.You need to include the structural results, the tests of the indirect effect, the probing of the indirect effect, and the index of moderated mediation. Example 7.2: Source: Thakkar, J.J. (2020). “Procedural

Moderated Mediation With a Categorical Moderator in SEM Model

In the preceding example, we explored moderated mediation with a moderator that was continuous. Let’s now examine how moderated mediation is performed when the mod- erator is a categorical variable. With a categorical moderator, we will not be forming an interaction term but will be assessing the moderator with a two group analysis. Let’s

Binary Categorical Variables in SEM

AMOS has the assumption that the dependent variables are continuous, but you can use cat- egorical variables as independent constructs in an AMOS model. The only way this can be done is by dummy coding the categorical variable into a “0” and “1”. Once dummy coding takes place in SPSS, we can use this

Mediation with Binary Categorical Independent Variables in SEM Model

Mediation with a categorical independent variable is run very similarly to a mediation analysis with a continuous variable.The independent variable will need to be coded as a “1” or a “0” for the groups. In this example, customers who received no adaptation in the service were coded as a “0” and those customers that

Multicategorical Independent Variables in SEM

In our previous example, our independent variable had only two categories (Treatment and Control group).The dummy coding for this two group category was straightforward and easy, with one group getting labeled a “1” and the other a “0”.When you have more than two groups in your independent variable, the dummy coding for this categorical

Mediation With Multicategorical Independent Variables in SEM

To test for mediation with a multicategorical independent variable, we will initially have to dummy code all the categories of the independent variable into separate variables. This is accomplished in the same way as discussed in the previous section about multicategorical vari- ables.We are dummy coding the multiple categories because one of the categories

Moderated Mediation With a Multicategorical Independent Variable in SEM

So far, we have examined multicategorical independent variables in a simple structural model test and then a mediation test. Let’s extend our example now to assess moderated mediation with multicategorical independent variables.We are going to use the same example as before, except this time we will add a moderator. The moderator in this test

How Do I Report the Results of My Multicategorical Moderated Mediation Test in SEM?

With multiple categories, you need to make sure the reader can easily find the statistical tests for each group.The categories and reference group also need to be overtly clear to the reader. I have provided two possible examples on how to present your results. Example 8.1: Example 8.2: Source: Thakkar, J.J. (2020). “Procedural Steps

Introduction to Latent Growth Curve Models

Latent growth curve models allow us to see the “growth” or change over numerous time points for a respondent.This type of analysis works well for longitudinal data collection, espe- cially with test-retest situations. If a respondent was measured at only two time points, we could use a two group analysis to determine differences of

Including Predictors Into a Latent Growth Curve Model

In the previous example, we had two groups and we simply tracked spending behaviors across the groups. With many latent growth curve models, you will want to include a predictor of the intercept and slope; specifically, the variable or construct that would influence the intercept and growth over the time period. Using our environmentally

How Do I Present My Latent Growth Curve Results?

There are many alternative templates you can use to present your latent growth curve results, but I find it is a good idea to present the mean values of the construct captured over the time periods for both groups. I also like to present the slope and intercept. Lastly, including the regression coefficients of