Assumptions of using structural equation modelling

[Hong Wan]

Dear All

Does anybody know whether there are any assumptions of using structural equation modelling?

Thanks

Lily

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[David Greenberg]

Yes, there are assumptions, and you can read about them in textbooks on the subject. David Greenberg, Sociology Department, New York University

----- Original Message -----
From: Hong Wan <[hidden email]>
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:18 am
Subject: Assumptions of using structural equation modelling
To: [hidden email]

> Dear All
>
> Does anybody know whether there are any assumptions of using
> structural equation modelling?
>
> Thanks
>
> Lily
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
> [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
> command. To leave the list, send the command
> SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
> For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
> INFO REFCARD

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[Johnny Amora]

Hi Lily,

All statistical models, including SEM, have underlying assumptions.  These are discussed in any introductory SEM textbooks.

 

--Johnny

--- On Wed, 3/25/09, Hong Wan <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Hong Wan <[hidden email]>
Subject: Assumptions of using structural equation modelling
To: [hidden email]
Date: Wednesday, 25 March, 2009, 11:14 PM

Dear All

Does anybody know whether there are any assumptions of using structural equation modelling?

Thanks

Lily

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[Mark A Davenport MADAVENP]

Lily (and other students using the list),

Asking this list a question like 'What are the assumptions of SEM' is sort of like showing up on Tiger Wood's doorstep during Sunday morning coffee and asking him to show you how to hold a golf club.  Frankly, it's a terrible waste of talent.  Once you have read and developed some specific questions that betray the fact that you have done some reading on the subject, come back post them.  You will find a receptive audience.  



For Lily, in particular,

Instead of simply leaving you with 'go read a book', let me offer what I consider some of the more readable books on the subject:

Barbara Byrne has produced several basic books that are tied to specific software packages.  If you have access to a particular piece of SEM software, I suggest  you look to see if she has covered that package in one of her books.

I have older editions of John Loehlin's Latent Variable Models: An Introduction to Factor, Path, and Structural Analysis and Ralph Mueller's Basic Principles of of Structural Equation Modellng.  I found these to be helpful, but my heart is with Loehlin's book.  It is pretty generic, very well written, filled with examples, and the math is presented in as friendly a manner as I have seen in a book on this topic.
Rex Kline and Rick Hoyle are widely known on the SEM  circuit and have beginner books available.  Certainly, I have missed many more excellent beginner treatments of the subject.  I hope others may offer their opinions on their preferred beginner books.  All of these books will offer treatments of the assumptions of SEM in the early chapters.

A few older, relavant articles that I found very helpful when I was cutting my teeth:

Bollen, Kenneth A.  (2002).  Latent variables in psychology and the social sciences.  Annual Review of Psychology. 53, Research Library, 605-634

.

Bollen, Kenneth A.  (2000).  Modeling strategies: In search of the holy grail. Structural Equation Modeling. 7(1), LEA, 74-81 .

Chin, Wynne W.  (March, 1998). Issues and opinions on structural equation modeling. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 22(1), Univ of MN.

Bentler, P. & Chou, C. (August, 1987).  Practical issues in structural modeling.  Sociological Methods & Research, 16(1), Sage,  78-117.


This is only a start.  I suggest you draw some keywords from these readings and find more recent writing on the topic.  Finally, you might also check through the SEMNET archives for some of the...ummm... 'lively discussions'...on the topic of assumptions and model testing.  Again, after you have read and familiarized yourself with the assumptions, feel free to post detailed questions that are prompted by your reading.

Peace,

Mark

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Mark A. Davenport Ph.D.
Senior Research Analyst
Office of Institutional Research
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
336.256.0395
[hidden email]

'An approximate answer to the right question is worth a good deal more than an exact answer to an approximate question.' --a paraphrase of J. W. Tukey (1962)

[Dale Glaser]

hopefully, this doesn't come off too self-promoting, but quite a few years ago I was asked by one of the journals to review the various SEM texts..citation is as follows and is appended n my website:

 

Glaser, D. (2002). Structural Equation Modeling Texts: A primer for the beginner. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 31(4), 573-578.

Dale Glaser, Ph.D.
Principal--Glaser Consulting
Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty--SDSU/USD/AIU
President, San Diego Chapter of
American Statistical Association
3115 4th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
email: [hidden email]
website: www.glaserconsult.com

--- On Thu, 3/26/09, Mark A Davenport MADAVENP <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Mark A Davenport MADAVENP <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: Assumptions of using structural equation modelling
To: [hidden email]
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2009, 8:25 AM

Lily (and other students using the list),

Asking this list a question like 'What are the assumptions of SEM' is sort of like showing up on Tiger Wood's doorstep during Sunday morning coffee and asking him to show you how to hold a golf club.  Frankly, it's a terrible waste of talent.  Once you have read and developed some specific questions that betray the fact that you have done some reading on the subject, come back post them.  You will find a receptive audience.  



For Lily, in particular,

Instead of simply leaving you with 'go read a book', let me offer what I consider some of the more readable books on the subject:

Barbara Byrne has produced several basic books that are tied to specific software packages.  If you have access to a particular piece of SEM software, I suggest  you look to see if she has covered that package in one of her books.

I have older editions of John Loehlin's Latent Variable Models: An Introduction to Factor, Path, and Structural Analysis and Ralph Mueller's Basic Principles of of Structural Equation Modellng.  I found these to be helpful, but my heart is with Loehlin's book.  It is pretty generic, very well written, filled with examples, and the math is presented in as friendly a manner as I have seen in a book on this topic.
Rex Kline and Rick Hoyle are widely known on the SEM  circuit and have beginner books available.  Certainly, I have missed many more excellent beginner treatments of the subject.  I hope others may offer their opinions on their preferred beginner books.  All of these books will offer treatments of the assumptions of SEM in the early chapters.

A few older, relavant articles that I found very helpful when I was cutting my teeth:

Bollen, Kenneth A.  (2002).  Latent variables in psychology and the social sciences.  Annual Review of Psychology. 53, Research Library, 605-634

.

Bollen, Kenneth A.  (2000).  Modeling strategies: In search of the holy grail. Structural Equation Modeling. 7(1), LEA, 74-81 .

Chin, Wynne W.  (March, 1998). Issues and opinions on structural equation modeling. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 22(1), Univ of MN.

Bentler, P. & Chou, C. (August, 1987).  Practical issues in structural modeling.  Sociological Methods & Research, 16(1), Sage,  78-117.


This is only a start.  I suggest you draw some keywords from these readings and find more recent writing on the topic.  Finally, you might also check through the SEMNET archives for some of the...ummm... 'lively discussions'...on the topic of assumptions and model testing.  Again, after you have read and familiarized yourself with the assumptions, feel free to post detailed questions that are prompted by your reading.

Peace,

Mark

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Mark A. Davenport Ph.D.
Senior Research Analyst
Office of Institutional Research
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
336.256.0395
[hidden email]

'An approximate answer to the right question is worth a good deal more than an exact answer to an approximate question.' --a paraphrase of J. W. Tukey (1962)