SEM Series (2016) 1. Introduction

Summary

The speaker announces an update to their SEM series, reflecting changes in the field and the world. They will no longer cover tests for homoskedasticity and linearity due to current debates and journal practices. New additions include influentials tests, multivariate assumptions, and a multigroup analysis in Amos. The presenter corrects and clarifies common method bias tests, introduces a new mediation approach, and updates the validity tool. They also release an updated stats tools package, a new plugin, and a reference page for SEM. The series will cover a simplified model with three hypotheses, aiming to make the content more precise and literature-based.

Takeaways

• 📈 The speaker is launching a new series on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with updates reflecting changes in the field and the world.
• 🔍 Some outdated topics like tests for homoskedasticity and linearity are being removed due to current debates and less frequent requests from journals.
• 📚 New content will be introduced, including tests for influential observations and multivariate assumptions, as well as a test for multigroup analysis in Amos.
• 🛠 The speaker has clarified and corrected many aspects, improving the methodology for common method bias tests and multi-group comparisons using Chi-Square difference tests.
• 💾 An updated SEMands program is provided for easier identification of mediated or indirect effects, along with updates to the validity tool for better estimation of error and variance.
• 🔗 The speaker has created and updated plugins, including the CF plugin for the new Common Method Bias (CMB) approach and a new Amos A*B SEMands file.
• 📄 A new references page has been added to the wiki, compiling numerous references for SEM, with an invitation for contributions to expand the resource.
• 📊 The speaker emphasizes a shift towards more precise language and literature-based approaches in statistics, aiming to ground explanations and claims in research.
• 📊 The upcoming series will guide through an order of operations for SEM, starting with a simplified model for clarity and ease of understanding.
• 🎓 The data used in the series is from students at BYU, focusing on Excel usage, information acquisition, decision quality, and other variables, with demographic controls.

Q & A

What is the main reason for updating the SEM series?

The main reason for updating the SEM series is that the speaker has learned a lot of new things, changed some approaches, and the world has also changed a bit, necessitating an update.

Which tests are no longer included in the updated SEM series?

The tests for homoskedasticity and linearity are no longer included because there are ongoing debates about them, and most journals do not require them.

What new tests are being added to the updated SEM series?

The new tests being added include tests for influentials, multivariate assumptions, a test for multigroup analysis in Amos, and the use of the multigroup models button in Amos.

How has the speaker improved the common method bias tests?

The speaker has improved the common method bias tests by using literature-supported tests instead of the previously used ones that were not rigorously supported by literature.

What is the new mediation approach that the speaker mentions?

The new mediation approach involves an s demand that the speaker has written, which can be downloaded and saved into the Amos area to help identify exact mediated or indirect effects.

What changes were made to the validity tool in the updated SEM series?

The validity tool now uses exact error and variance for composite reliability estimation instead of estimated error, making it more accurate.

What updates were made to the plugins and tools mentioned in the script?

The CF plugin has been updated to work with the new common method bias (CMB) approach, a new s demand file has been created, and the stats tools package has been updated. All these updates are available on the wiki.

Why did the speaker add a references page to the stat wiki?

The speaker added a references page because it had been requested for years, and a participant online urged the speaker to do it, providing a bunch of references.

What is the purpose of the references page on the stat wiki?

The purpose of the references page is to provide a collection of references for those doing SEM, which can be searched using the search function on the page.

How has the speaker's approach to statistics and language precision evolved?

The speaker's approach has evolved to be more precise, with a focus on grounded literature-based approaches rather than pure logic, and the language used in explanations and claims has become more precise.

What is the model being tested in the updated SEM series?

The model being tested is a simplified model based on data from students at BYU, focusing on how they use Excel, information acquisition, decision quality, usefulness, enjoyment, playfulness, atypical use, and controlling for demographic information like gender, age, and frequency of use.

How many hypotheses is the speaker proposing in the updated SEM series?

The speaker is proposing three hypotheses in the updated SEM series for simplicity, although in practice, one might have multiple hypotheses.