Developed a Bayesian approach for a general multigroup nonlinear factor analysis model that simultaneously obtains joint Bayesian estimates of the factor scores and the structural parameters subjected to some constraints across different groups. (SLD)

Estimation of polychoric correlations is seen as a special case of the theory of parametric inference in contingency tables. the asymptotic covariance matrix of the estimated polychoric correlations is derived for the case when thresholds are estimated from univariate marginals and polychoric correlations are estimated from bivariate marginals for…

B. O. Muthen (1984) formulated a general model and estimation procedure for structural equation modeling with a mixture of dichotomous, ordered categorical, and continuous measures of latent variables that was implemented in the LISCOMP program. This paper extends the description of the asymptotics and shows how the formulas can be derived.…

Used an intervening mechanism design (H. Chen, 1990) in conjunction with structural equation modeling to test the plausibility of a model of participatory evaluation in a study involving 315 teachers participating in the British Columbia (Canada) school-accreditation program. Results support the model as an explanation of how participatory…

Explores the use of the Friedman method of ranks (H. Friedman, 1937) as an inferential procedure for evaluating competing models in structural-equation modeling. Describes the attractive features of this approach, but raises important issues regarding the lack of independence of observations and the power of the test. (SLD)

SOLAS is a general-purpose program for univariate statistical analysis with the ability to perform multiple imputation (MI) for dealing with missing data. Several completed data sets can be obtained and analyzed separately, and results can be combined so that extra variability due to missing data is taken into account. (SLD)

Proposes a method for obtaining standard errors and confidence intervals of composite reliability coefficients based on bootstrap methods and using a structural-equation-modeling framework for estimating the composite reliability of congeneric measures (T. Raykov, 1997). Demonstrates the approach with simulated data. (SLD)

Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test models of the relationship between inspection time (IT) and psychometric measures of intelligence in a sample of 134 healthy adults in the United Kingdom. A nested structural equation modeling approach shows that IT is most strongly associated with the Perceptual-Organizational factor of the Wechsler…

Assessed the robustness of an estimation method for multilevel and path analysis with hierarchical data proposed by B. Muthen (1989) with unequal groups and small sample sizes and in the presence of a low or high intraclass correlation. Simulation results show the effects of varying these conditions on the within-group and between-groups part of…

Discusses the design and analysis of Monte Carlo experiments, with special reference to structural equation modeling. Outlines three fundamental challenges of Monte Carlo approaches and suggests some alternative procedures that challenge conventional wisdom. Asserts that comprehensive Monte Carlo studies can be done with a personal computer if the…

Examines some positions in various arguments related to the proper number of factors and proper number of steps when using structural equation models. Defines the issue in estimating structural equation models as a problem of specifying a model appropriately based on theoretical concerns and then diagnosing ills in the model as well as possible.…

Provides select power and sample size tables and interpolation strategies associated with the root mean square error of approximation test of not close fit under standard assumed conditions. The goal is to inform researchers conducting structural equation modeling about power limitations when testing a model. (SLD)

Used Monte Carlo simulation to examine the performance of four missing data methods in structural equation models: (1)full information maximum likelihood (FIML); (2) listwise deletion; (3) pairwise deletion; and (4) similar response pattern imputation. Results show that FIML estimation is superior across all conditions of the design. (SLD)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the robustness of estimated growth curve models when there is stationary autocorrelation among manifest variable errors. The results suggest that when, in practice, growth curve models are fitted to longitudinal data, alternative rival hypotheses to consider would include growth models that also specify…

Structural invariance of self-rated satisfaction with life data was assessed using four data sets collected in earlier studies by using the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Three measurement models were compared to account for structural variability of the data. Strict structural invariance was rejected. Departure from the one-factor model was only…