P5Y7066 Mediation analysis 18 February 2025

A. Test the mediation hypothesis using the Baron & Kenny (1986) four-step
approach. Insert the standardized beta coefficients on Figure 1 below.

Step 1
Show that XIS correlated with Y. This step establishes that there is an effect that moy
be mediated.

Step 2
Show that X is correlated with M. Use M os the criterion variable in the regression
equation and X as a predictor (estimate and test path a).

Step 3
Show that M affects Y. Use Y as the criterion variable in a regression equation and X
and M as predictors. it is not sufficient just to correlate the mediator with the
outcome!

Step 4
To establish that M mediates the X-Y relationship, the effect of X on Y controlling for
M (path c’) should be zero.

t6

c(c’)

13= .SOO
(13= )
(003

B. Compute the indirect effect of RWA -> threat -* prejudice.

(a) Indirect effect (a4b) =

(b) Using Cohen’s guidelines, how large is this effect?

(c) Is this full or partial mediation? Justify your answer.

cIo

2
P5Y7066 Mediation analysis 18 February 2015

C. Test the significance of the indirect effect of RWA on prejudice via threat using
(a) the Sobel test and (b) the bootstrapping method in the PROCESS add-on in SPSS
(see instructions on how to use PROCESS on the next page).

(a) Sobel test: http://puantpsy.org/sobel/sobel.htm

Statistics you will need to have before computing the test online:

• Unstandardized coefficient for path a (RWA 3 threat)

= ro I
• 5a = standard error for a =
[R ]
• Unstandardized coefficient for path b (threat 3 prejudice, controlling for a) =

• = standard error for b = [J1 I

z= [‘b.1.] p-value= jjJ (.oooIc)
• Should we use the Sobel test for these data? Justify your answer.
Pie, Sou”.çlt
r’1
(b) Bootstrapping method (5P55 PROCESS add-on):
* Note: Depending on the version of SPSS, you may receive an error
message; this may be easily
resolved by changing the variable names toS or fewer characters in the SPSS file.

The output will provide you with the unstandardized regression coefficients for all
the paths in the model (Insert into Figure 2 below). Are these the same as the ones
you obtained by doing the three regressions in SPSS?

Threat

rI RWA
1I c(c’)
>
II Prejudice
J b=A91’
(b=)
t.oo,
Indirect effect size (a*b):
[ oo9’4j
95% Confidence Interval:
.

Is the indirect effect significant? [itS 1 ü VIG 11t %i€ 6.1