testing *specific* indirect effects in AMOS

[Laurent]

Hi all,

I have a very general AMOS question. I am wondering if there is any (simple) way to get AMOS to output *specific* indirect effects, along with associated confidence intervals, etc.

That is, in the simplest case, if I have a 2 mediator model, where X -> M1, X->M2, M1->Y, M2->Y (i.e., X predicts Y through M1 and M2), all I can get in output is the *total* indirect effect of X on Y (through M1 and M2). This is the sum of the two indirect effects, though, and does not tell me each individual path (X->M1->Y & X->M2->Y). This is often a very important question, with multiple mediators of an effect in a model, and a desire to test individual mediated paths.

In order to come up with the total indirect effect, AMOS must be calculating each path in some way. The question is "where do I find output attesting to this??" So far, I've seen one other person with the question on the interwebs, unanswered, and other searches simply turn up how to test indirect effects in AMOS.

Any help from anyone out there would be appreciated.

I should note that I realize MPlus will give me what I want (i.e., you have to specify EVERY path you want in the model), but my question is really about getting AMOS to give me this very basic information.

Sean

[Ryan]

Sean,

The usual mediation model includes the X->Y path.

The workaround I have used in AMOS to fit multiple mediation models involves inclusion of phantom variables. (I validated the results by comparing them to one of Andrew Hayes' macros which is an alternative you might consider.) If you are familiar with AMOS syntax, I would be willing to post an example.

Ryan

> On Dec 7, 2013, at 4:48 PM, Laurent <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a very general AMOS question. I am wondering if there is any (simple)
> way to get AMOS to output *specific* indirect effects, along with associated
> confidence intervals, etc.
>
> That is, in the simplest case, if I have a 2 mediator model, where X -> M1,
> X->M2, M1->Y, M2->Y (i.e., X predicts Y through M1 and M2), all I can get in
> output is the *total* indirect effect of X on Y (through M1 and M2). This is
> the sum of the two indirect effects, though, and does not tell me each
> individual path (X->M1->Y & X->M2->Y). This is often a very important
> question, with multiple mediators of an effect in a model, and a desire to
> test individual mediated paths.
>
> In order to come up with the total indirect effect, AMOS must be calculating
> each path in some way. The question is "where do I find output attesting to
> this??" So far, I've seen one other person with the question on the
> interwebs, unanswered, and other searches simply turn up how to test
> indirect effects in AMOS.
>
> Any help from anyone out there would be appreciated.
>
> I should note that I realize MPlus will give me what I want (i.e., you have
> to specify EVERY path you want in the model), but my question is really
> about getting AMOS to give me this very basic information.
>
> Sean
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/testing-specific-indirect-effects-in-AMOS-tp5723499.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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[Laurent]

Hi Ryan,

Thanks for the reply. I've figured out I can do it all with custom estimands - actually somewhat easier than the full specification necessary in MP or other programs. If I only had time right now to really learn (rather than dabble in) R. 

Sean

On Sat, Dec 7, 2013 at 3:17 PM, Ryan Black [via SPSSX Discussion] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Sean,

The usual mediation model includes the X->Y path.

The workaround I have used in AMOS to fit multiple mediation models involves inclusion of phantom variables. (I validated the results by comparing them to one of Andrew Hayes' macros which is an alternative you might consider.) If you are familiar with AMOS syntax, I would be willing to post an example.

Ryan

> On Dec 7, 2013, at 4:48 PM, Laurent <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a very general AMOS question. I am wondering if there is any (simple)
> way to get AMOS to output *specific* indirect effects, along with associated
> confidence intervals, etc.
>
> That is, in the simplest case, if I have a 2 mediator model, where X -> M1,
> X->M2, M1->Y, M2->Y (i.e., X predicts Y through M1 and M2), all I can get in
> output is the *total* indirect effect of X on Y (through M1 and M2). This is
> the sum of the two indirect effects, though, and does not tell me each
> individual path (X->M1->Y & X->M2->Y). This is often a very important
> question, with multiple mediators of an effect in a model, and a desire to
> test individual mediated paths.
>
> In order to come up with the total indirect effect, AMOS must be calculating
> each path in some way. The question is "where do I find output attesting to
> this??" So far, I've seen one other person with the question on the
> interwebs, unanswered, and other searches simply turn up how to test
> indirect effects in AMOS.
>
> Any help from anyone out there would be appreciated.
>
> I should note that I realize MPlus will give me what I want (i.e., you have
> to specify EVERY path you want in the model), but my question is really
> about getting AMOS to give me this very basic information.
>
> Sean
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/testing-specific-indirect-effects-in-AMOS-tp5723499.html

> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> 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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