Special topics in quantitative communication research methods: structural equation modeling

RESEARCH METHODS: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

Spring, 2007
Professor: Rick Zimmerman

Office: 245 Grehan

Phone: 257-4099

Office hours: Mon. 11:45-12:45 and by appointment

Classroom: B35 W.T. Young Library

Class meeting hours: Mon. 1-3:30; labs 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Monday, and TBA

B35 W.T. Young Library

Teaching Assistant: Olga Dekhtyar

TA’s office: 308 Breckinridge Hall

TA’s phone number: 257-8133

TA’s office hours: TBA

Course Philosophy
While for most students, some of the material will be review, the course will be taught at the graduate student level. That is, students are expected to have a level of commitment to the course well beyond that expected for undergraduates in their courses, as the material covered in this course may be of use throughout the students' careers. It is expected that multiple readings of material will have been undertaken before class, and that an all-out effort will be made to understand the material and to work on assignments for the class.

The instructor will do his best to make sure that the information presented is understandable, but expects that students will have first spent some time trying to assimilate the material on their own. Quizzes in this class will be completed in-class, will be designed to be difficult, and will be graded on a curve, so that students who have superior ability and/or have expended much effort will be able to demonstrate these on the exam. Late assignments will not be accepted and make-up exams will not be given, except for extenuating circumstances.

Each student must keep up with the material as we go along; statistical methods is typically not a subject for which several weeks of material can be crammed into one's brain in several hours. Laboratories to become familiar with computer programming, model testing, and completing exercises will be required. Students are strongly urged to stop in during office hours with Dr. Zimmerman or Ms. Dekhtyar if they have any questions.

Primary Course Objectives

• 
  to familiarize graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences with the language, logic, and implementation of structural equation modeling;
  
• 
  to compare and contrast structural equation modeling with more commonly used statistical strategies in the social and behavioral sciences such as multiple regression analysis and factor analysis;
  
• 
  to teach the criteria associated with the decisions that must be made at each phase of a structural equation modeling analysis;
  
• 
  to consider the philosophical and statistical criticisms of structural equation modeling as an approach to research design and data analysis;
  
• 
  to provide firsthand experience reviewing research reports that feature structural equation modeling and writing up and presenting orally the results of structural equation modeling analyses.
  

There are three required books:

1. 
   Kline, R.B. (2005). Principles of Structural Equation Modeling (2^nd edition). New York: Guilford.
   
2. 
   Hoyle, R.H. (ed.) (1995). Structural Equation Modeling: Concepts, Issues, and Applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
   

Two quizzes will comprise the testing in the course. While we hope you will read and learn the material just for learning sake, sometimes in the mix of other activities and coursework, it is easy to let readings and mastery of the material go by the wayside. So, I think some grades related to mastery of the material may help students keep on the top of the material, and have decided to include 2 quizzes as part of your grade. Each will occupy about 30 minutes of class time on Feb. 26 and Apr. 2. Most will be short answer or short essay but some writing of computer programming, simple calculations, path diagrams, and /or interpreting output may also be included.

The major product of the course will be a written report of a structural equation modeling analysis you conduct on data of your choosing. On Feb. 19 I will ask you to specify a dataset that you will analyze and write up for the course. On Mar. 26 I will ask you to prepare a document in which you specify the names and characteristics of the variables your analysis will include and the nature of the model you plan to fit. All models should include both measurement and structural components for this assignment. About two-thirds of the way through the course I will ask you to meet outside of class with another member of the class to discuss your data and plan of analysis and to exchange feedback on your projects. The final draft of the research project is due by May 3^th at 10 a.m. An 8-10-minute oral presentation will also be given on either April 23 or April 30.

Students are expected to attend all class sessions, as both hearing about statistics material and reading it as important elements to learning it. Attendance is also required at laboratory sessions (1 per week), as doing statistics is probably the most important learning component of all. I also expect students’ participation in class; both the quality and quantity of student’s participation will be considered in their evaluation.

Three computer assignments, an oral presentation about a published article using structural equation modeling, a research project (both an oral presentation and a written paper), and a midterm exam will comprise the grading in this course. The total grade will be distributed as follows:

Homework Assignments 24% (3 @8% each)

Published Article Presentation 10%

Research Project—written component 26%

Research Project—oral presentation 10%

Quizzes (2 @ 10%) 20%

Attendance/participation 10%

2000 at UK. (I have especially drawn on this syllabus for readings and assignments.)

Robert Hauser, University of Wisconsin, Sociology 952, Mathematical and Statistical Applications in

Sociology, Topic: Path Analysis and Structural Equation Models, taught Spring, 2004.

Stephen West, Cathy Cottrell, & Oi-Man Kwok, Arizona State University, Psychology 533,

Structural Equation Modeling, taught Spring, 2004.

Gregory Elliott, Brown University, Sociology 226, Structural Equation Models in the Social

Sciences, taught Fall, 2004.

Ancestry, History, and Philosophy of Science Blalock (1991)

Berk (1988)

Hershberger (2003)

Freedman (1991)

Jan. 29 Review of correlation and regression Kline: 2; Byrne: 1

Cohen et al. (2003): Ch. 2-3

measurement issues Allison (2003) Cohen et al. (2003) pp.225-251

DeVellis (1991), pp. 1-41

Schaefer & Graham (2002)

programs; Homework 1 due Byrne: 3

*Byrne (1994), Chapters 1 & 2 *Kelloway (1998),Ch. 4-7
Feb. 19 Path Analysis 1: Basic theorems, mediation, coefficients, Kline: 5 pp. 93-105; Hoyle: 3

Choose dataset Kenny (1979), Chapters 3-4

Baron & Kenny (1986)

MacKinnon et al. (2002)

Cole & Maxwell (2003)

Gionta et al. (2005)

*Shrout & Bolger (2002)

indirect effects, identification; Quiz 1 Alwin & Hauser (1975)

Holbert & Stephenson (2001)

Pedhazur (1982), pp. 614-628

Fox (1980)

Mar. 5 Path Analysis 3: fitting a model, fit indices, comparing Kline: 6; Hoyle 3, 5

models, statistical power; Homework 2 due Hayduk et al., (2003)

Bollen & Long (1993)

Tanaka (1993)

Marsh et al. (2004)

Fan & Sivo (2005)

*Reichardt (2002)

*Dormann, 2001

*Muthén & Muthén (2002)
Course Outline (cont.)
Mar. 19 Measurement Models and Confirmatory Kline: 7; Hoyle: 10, 12

Factory Analysis; item parcels Byrne: 4

Lance et al., 2002

Noar, 2003

Quilty et al. (2006)

Hagtvet & Nasser (2004)

components in SEM; Turn in dataset description; Anderson & Gerbing (1988)

McDonald & Ho (2002)

Stephenson & Holbert (2003)

MacCallum & Austin (2000)

*Hayduk & Glaser (2000)
Apr. 2 Nonrecursive structural models; Quiz 2 Kline: 9

James & Singh, 1978

*Berry, 1984
Apr. 9 Advanced topics: Multi-group SEM, Kline: 10, 11; Hoyle: 11, 13

Latent Growth Models Bentler & Dudgeon (1996)

Byrne (2004)

Kim (2005)

*Gonzalez & Griffin (2001)

*Raykov (2005)

Apr. 16 Pitfalls in using SEM; Critique of SEM Kline: 12, 13

and future directions Tomarken & Waller (2005)

Raykov & Marcoulides (2001)

Schumacker (2002)

deJong (1999)

Apr. 23 Research report presentations 1

Apr. 30 Research report presentations 2


May 3 Research reports due, 10 a.m.
Additional Readings
January 22

Berk, R.A. (1988). Causal inference for sociological data. In N.J. Smelser (Ed.), Handbook of Sociology (pp. 155-172). Newbury Park: Sage.

Hershberger, S. L. (2003). The growth of structural equation modeling: 1994-2001. Structural

Equation Modeling, 10, 35-46.

Blalock, H. M., Jr. (1991). Are there really any constructive alternatives to casual modeling? P. V.

Marsden (Editor), Sociological Methodology, 21, 325-335. Cambridge, MA: Basil Blackwell.

Freedman, D. A. (1991). Statistical models and shoe leather. P. Marsden (Editor), Sociological

Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L.S. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (3^rd Ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L.S. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (3^rd Ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

DeVellis, R. F. (1991). Scale Development: Theory and Applications. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Schafer, J.L., & Graham, J.W. (2002). Missing data: our view of the state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7, 147-177.

Allison, P. D. (2003). Missing data techniques for Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Abnormal

Psychology, 112(4), 545-557.
February 12

*Byrne, B. M. (1994). Structural Equation Modeling with EQS and EQS/Windows: Basic Concepts,

*Kelloway, E. K. (1998). Using LISREL for Structural Equation Modeling: A Researcher’s Guide.

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
February 19

Kenny, D. A. (1979). Correlation and Causality. New York, NY: John Wiley.

Baron, R.M., & Kenny, D.A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 173-182.

MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwook, C. M., Hoffman, J. M., West, S. G., & Sheets, V. (2002). A comparison

of methods to test the significance of the mediation and intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods, 7, 83-104.

Cole, D. A., & Maxwell, S. (2003). Testing mediational models with longitudinal data: Questions and

tips in the use of Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112(4),

558-577.

Gionta, D. A., Harlow, L. L., Loitman, J. E., & Leeman, J. M. (2005). Testing a mediational model of

communication among medical staff and families of cancer patients. Structural Equation

Modeling, 12(3), 454–470.

*Shrout, P.E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New

procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7, 422-445.
Additional Readings (cont.)
February 26

Alwin, D.F., and Hauser, R.M. (1975). The decomposition of effects in path analysis. American

Pedhazur, E.J. (1982). Multiple Regression in Behavioral Research, Chapter 15, pp. 577-588. New

York, NY: Holt.

Fox, J. (1980). Effect analysis in structural equation models. Sociological Methods and Research, 9,

3-26.

Holbert, R. L., & Stephenson, M. T. (2001). The importance of indirect effects in media effects research:

Hayduk, L., Cummings, G., Stratkotter, R., Nimmo, M., Grygoryev, K., Dosman, D., Gillespie, M.,

Pazderka-Robinson, H., & Boadu, K. (2003). Pearl’s D-separation: One more step into causal

thinking. Structural Equation Modeling, 10, 289-311.

Bollen, K.A., & Long, J.S. (1993). Introduction. In K.A. Bollen & J.S. Long (Eds.), Testing Structural

Equation Models (pp.1-9). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Tanaka, J.S. (1993). Multifaceted conceptions of fit in structural equation models. In K.A. Bollen & J.S.

Long (Eds.), Testing Structural Equation Models (pp. 10-39). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Marsh, H. W., Hau, K., & Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on hypothesis-testing

approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and

Bentler’s (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11(3), 320-341.

Fan, X., & Sivo, S. A. (2005). Sensitivity of fit indexes to misspecified structural or measurement model

components: Rationale of two-index strategy revisited. Structural Equation Modeling, 12(3),

*Reichardt, C. S. (2002). The priority of just-identified, recursive models. Psychological Methods,

*Dormann, C. (2001). Modeling unmeasured third variables in longitudinal studies. Structural

*Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2002). How to use a Monte Carlo study to decide on sample size and

determine power. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 599-620.
March 19

Lance, C. E., & Noble, C. L. (2002). A critique of the correlated trait-correlated method and correlated

Uniqueness models for multitrait-multimethod data. Psychological Methods, 7, 228-244.

Noar, S. M. (2003). The role of structural equation modeling in scale development. Structural Equation

Quilty, L. C., Oakman, J. M., & Risko, E. (2006). Correlates of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale method effects. Structural Equation Modeling, 13(1), 99-117.

Hagtvet, K. A., & Nasser, F. M. (2004). How well do item parcels represent conceptually defined latent

constructs? A two-facet approach. Structural Equation Modeling, 11(2), 168-193.

Holbert, R. L., & Stephenson, M. T. (2002). Structural equation modeling in the communication sciences, 1995-2000. Human Communication Research, 28, 351-551.

McDonald, R.P., & Ho, M-H. R. (2002). Principles and practice in reporting structural equation analysis. Psychological Methods, 7, 64-82.

Stephenson, M. T., & Holbert, R. L. (2003). A Monte Carlo simulation of observable latent variable

structural equation modeling techniques. Communication Research, 30, 332-354.

MacCallum, R.C., & Austin, J.T. (2000). Applications of structural equation modeling in psychological research. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 201-22.

Anderson, J. & Gerbing, D. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step procedure. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 411-423.

*Hayduk, L. A., & Glaser, D. N. (2000). Jiving the four-step, waltzing around factor analysis, and other

serious fun. Structural Equation Modeling, 7, 1-35.
April 2

James, L.R., and B.K. Singh. (1978). An introduction to the logic, assumption, and basic analytical

procedures of two-stage least squares. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 1104-1122.

*Berry, W. D. (1984). Nonrecursive Causal Models. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Bentler, P.M., & Dudgeon, P. (1996). Covariance structure analysis: Statistical practice, theory, directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 47, 563-592.

MacCallum, R.C., Wegener, D.T., Uchino, B.N., & Fabrigar, L.R. (1993). The problem of equivalent models in applications of covariance structure analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 185-191.

Byrne, B. M. (2004). Testing for multigroup invariance using AMOS graphics: A road less traveled.

Kim, K. H. (2005). The relation among fit indexes, power, and sample size in structural equation

modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 12(3), 368-390.

*Gonzalez, R., & Griffin, D. (2001). Testing parameters in structural equation modeling: Every “one” matters. Psychological Methods, 6, 258-269.

*Raykov, T. (2005). Analysis of longitudinal studies with missing data using covariance structure:

Modeling with full-information maximum likelihood. Structural Equation Modeling, 12(3),

Raykov, T., & Marcoulides, G. A. (2001) Can there be infinitely many models equivalent to a given

covariance structure model? Structural Equation Modeling, 8, 142-149.

Schumacker, R. E. (2002). Latent variable interaction modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 40- 54.

deJong, P. F. (1999). Hierarchical regression analysis in structural equation modeling. Structural

Equation Modeling, 6, 187-211.

Tomarken, A. J., & Waller, N. G. (2005). Structural equation modeling: Strengths, limitations, and