This paper, in a fashion easy to follow, illustrates the interesting relationship between structural equation modeling and canonical correlation analysis. Although computationally somewhat inconvenient, representing canonical correlation as a structural equation model may provide some information which is not available from conventional canonical…

This paper asserts that causality is an intriguing but controversial topic in philosophy, statistics, and educational and psychological research. By supporting the Causal Markov Condition and the faithfulness condition, Clark Glymour attempted to draw causal inferences from structural equation modeling. According to Glymour, in order to make…

This paper illustrates first how estimated Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) measurement error variances are actually estimates of score reliabilities. The major advantage of SEM over other analytic methods is that it accounts for measurement error. Score reliabilities are estimated as part of structural modeling, so that structural models test…

A case is made for representing quantitative methods in use in the social sciences within a unified framework based on structural equation methodology (SEM). Most of the methods now in use are shown in their SEM representation. It is suggested that the visual and verbal representations of SEM are of most use, while specific estimation and…

Continuing a discussion of the topic of fit assessment in structural equation modeling, this article accepts the compromise proposed by H. Marsh (1998) and offers tentative heuristic models for interpreting fit indices that involve the new baseline model proposed by E. Rigdon (1998). (SLD)

This revision of the structural equation modeling (SEM) package developed by J. L. Arbuckle is a commercial product that can compete with other SEM software. The revision contains new documentation, improvements in the way the program saves files, and new drawing tools. It is a substantial improvement over earlier versions. (SLD)

Used analysis of covariance structures to test for the equivalence of a well-known measuring instrument across two culturally diverse groups, exploring three possible determinants of the resulting nonvariance. Example data comprised item responses to the four nonacademic subscales of the Self Description Questionnaire for Australian and Nigerian…

Evaluated the sample invariance of item discrimination statistics in a case study using real data, responses of 10 random samples of 500 people to a depression scale. Results lend some support to the hypothesized superiority of a two-parameter item response model over the common form of structural equation modeling, at least when responses are…

Naquin and Holton report how the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and Positive and Negative Affectivity Schedule were used to measure motivation to improve work through learning of 239 trainees. Positive affect, work commitment, and extraversion were significant antecedents of motivation. Invited reaction by Rodney A. McCloy and Lauress L. Wise raises…

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)