The authors used structural equation modeling to investigate universal change processes identified in the generic model of psychotherapy (GMP). Three path models of increasing complexity were examined in Study 1 in dynamic therapy. The best fitting model from Study one was replicated in Study two for participants receiving either cognitive or…

The study examines how adolescents' perceptions of exposure to smoker role models relate to their intentions to smoke, both directly, and indirectly through attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioural control. The data is based on a national representative sample of 15-year-olds (n=1670) in Norway. Path analysis indicates that perceptions of model…

Research questions that test the interaction between either categorical variables or multiplicative expressions are commonly found in multiple regression and analysis of variance applications. In contract, research questions posing an interaction between observed variables in a path analytic model are not commonly found in the literature. This is…

D. B. Rubin's model for causal inference in experiments and observational studies is enlarged to analyze the problem of "causes causing causes" and is compared to path analysis and recursive structural equations models. A special quasiexperimental design, the encouragement design, is used to give concreteness to the discussion by…

In this paper the binomial index of model fit is applied to four path-analytic or structural-equation models to demonstrate how this goodness-of-fit measure can be used and interpreted. In addition, the conclusions derived from the results of the binomial index of goodness of fit were compared to the statements presented by the authors of the…

Correlation-based approaches to causal analysis contain too much irrelevant information that masks and modulates the true nature of causal processes in the world. Both causal modeling and path analysis/structural equations give the wrong answers for certain conceptions of causation, given certain assumptions about the "error" variables.…

Family research has been hindered by a reliance on either empirical relationships or abstract theoretical claims. There has been no effective way to bridge the gap between statistical relationships and theoretical propositions. The application of linear structural equation models helps to bridge this gap. Empirical propositions are not developed.…

The usefulness of path analysis as a means of better understanding various linear models is demonstrated. First, two linear models are presented in matrix form using linear structural relations (LISREL) notation. The two models, regression and factor analysis, are shown to be identical although the research question and data matrix to which these…

Author presented a critical analysis of the conclusions drawn by Jencks in his book. (RK)

Makes a distinction in methodological work between building and applying statistical models for the processes that generate data for the social sciences and applying that data to available statistical methods. Agrees with Freeman that researchers need to think more about underlying social processes. (RB)

A structural equation model is proposed with a generalized measurement part, allowing for dichotomous and ordered categorical variables (indicators) in addition to continuous ones. A computationally feasible three-stage estimator is proposed for any combination of observed variable types. Two multiple-indicator modeling examples are given.…

Structural equation models require formidable computational techniques. Testing the goodness of fit involves discrepancies between original correlations among variables and correlations estimated by solved path coefficients. A BASIC computer program which solves these problems is presented and discussed. (Author/GDC)

Decomposable models, which allow for the interdependence of structure among observable variables, are described. Each model is fully characterized by a set of conditional interdependence restrictions and can be visualized with an undirected as well as a special type of directed graph. (Author/JKS)

Focus of this paper is on the logic of the model rather than the estimation of parameters or testing the fit of the model to data. (Authors/MB)