Applied Structural Equation Modeling for Dummies, by Dummies

February 22, 2013 Indiana University, Bloomington

Joseph J. Sudano, Jr., PhD

Center for Health Care Research and Policy Case Western Reserve University at The MetroHealth System

Adam T. Perzynski, PhD

Center for Health Care Research and Policy Case Western Reserve University at The MetroHealth System

Thanks So Much!!
Acknowledgements:
Bill Pridemore PhD Adam Perzynski PhD David W. Baker MD Randy Cebul MD Fred Wolinsky PhD
No conflicts of interest (but I wish there were some major financial ones!)
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Presentation Outline
Conceptual overview. What is SEM? Basic idea underpinning SEM Major applications Shared characteristics among SEM techniques Terms, nomenclature, symbols, vocabulary Basic SEM example Sample size, other issues and model fit Software and texts
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What Is Structural Equation Modeling?

SEM: very general, very powerful multivariate technique.
Specialized versions of other analysis methods.

Major applications of SEM:

Causal modeling or path analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Second order factor analysis. Covariance structure models. Correlation structure models.
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Advantages of SEM Compared to Multiple Regression

More flexible modeling Uses CFA to correct for measurement error Attractive graphical modeling interface

Testing models overall vs. individual coefficients

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What are its Advantages?

Test models with multiple dependent variables Ability to model mediating variables Ability to model error terms

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What are its Advantages?

Test coefficients across multiple betweensubjects groups Ability to handle difficult data
Longitudinal with auto-correlated error Multi-level data Non-normal data Incomplete data
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Shared Characteristics of SEM Methods

SEM is a priori Think in terms of models and hypotheses Forces the investigator to provide lots of information which variables affect others directionality of effect
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Shared Characteristics of SEM Methods

SEM allows distinctions between observed and latent variables Basic statistic in SEM in the covariance Not just for non-experimental data View many standard statistical procedures as special cases of SEM Statistical significance less important than for more standard techniques
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Terms, Nomenclature, Symbols, and Vocabulary (Not Necessarily in That Order)

Variance = s2 Standard deviation = s Correlation = r Covariance = sXY = COV(X,Y) Disturbance = D
X
A

Y
X

D
E
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Measurement error = e or E

Terms, Nomenclature, Symbols, and Vocabulary

Experimental research independent and dependent variables. Non-experimental research predictor and criterion variables Observed (or manifest) Latent (or factors)
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Terms, Nomenclature, Symbols, and Vocabulary

Exogenous Endogenous Direct effects Reciprocal effects Correlation or covariance
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of external origin
Outside the model

of internal origin
Inside the model

Terms, Nomenclature, Symbols, and Vocabulary

Measurement model
That part of a SEM model dealing with latent variables and indicators.

Structural model
Contrasted with the above Set of exogenous and endogenous variables in the model with arrows and disturbance terms
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Measurement Model: Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Observed or manifest variables

D1

Hostility
Hopelessness

e1 e2 e3 e4

Psychosocial health

GHQ Self-rated health

Latent construct or factor

Singh-Manoux, Clark and Marmot. 2002. Multiple measures of socio-economic position and psychosocial health: proximal and distal measures. 18

Structural Model with Additional Variables

Observed or manifest variables

Education

D1

Hostility
Hopelessness

e1 e2 e3 e4

Occupation

Psychosocial health

GHQ Self-rated health

Income Latent construct or factor

Singh-Manoux, Clark and Marmot. 2002. Multiple measures of socio-economic position and psychosocial health: proximal and distal measures.

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Causal Modeling or Path Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Education

a= direct effect
b+c=indirect c
Psychosocial health

Hostility
Hopelessness

e1 e2 e3 e4

Income
D1

GHQ
D3

Occupation
D2

Self-rated health

Singh-Manoux, Clark and Marmot. 2002. Multiple measures of socio-economic position and psychosocial health: proximal and distal measures.

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What Sample Size is Enough for SEM?

The same as for regression*
More is pretty much always better Some fit indexes are sensitive to small samples

*Unless you do things that are fancy!

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Whats a Good Model?

Fit measures:
Chi-square test CFI (Comparative Fit Index) RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) TLI (Tucker Lewis Index) GFI (Goodness of Fit Index) And many, many, many more IFI, NFI, AIC, CIAC, BIC, BCC
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How Many Indicators Do I Need?

That depends How many do you have? (e.g., secondary data analysis) A prior concerns Scale development standards Subject burden More is often NOT better
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Software
LISREL 9.1 from SSI (Scientific Software International) IBMs SPSS Amos EQS (Multivariate Software) Mplus (Linda and Bengt Muthen) CALIS (module from SAS) Statas new sem module R (lavaan and sem modules)
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SPSS Amos Screenshot

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Stata Screenshot

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Texts (and a reference)

Barbara M. Byrne (2012): Structural Equation Modeling with Mplus, Routledge Press
She also has an earlier work using Amos

Rex Kline (2010): Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling, Guilford Press Niels Blunch (2012): Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling Using IBM SPSS Statistics and Amos, Sage Publications James L. Arbuckle (2012): IBM SPSS Amos 21 Users Guide, IBM Corporation (free from the Web) Rick H. Hoyle (2012): Handbook of Structural Equation Modeling, Guilford Press Great fit index site:
http://www.psych-it.com.au/Psychlopedia/article.asp?id=277
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Thanks So Much Again!!

Questions????

jsudano@metrohealth.org

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