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…

Prior studies have found inconsistent relationships between measures of self-concept and adolescent alcohol use. The current study explored whether the link between various measures of self-concept and alcohol use depends on gender. In addition, earlier work suggested a focus on negative self-esteem (i.e., self-derogation) might be more useful in…

A method for estimation of reliability for multiple-component measuring instruments with clustered data is outlined. The approach is applicable with hierarchical designs where individuals are nested within higher order units and exhibit possibly related performance on components of a scale of interest. The procedure is developed within the…

A core assumption of the standard multiple regression model is independence of residuals, the violation of which results in biased standard errors and test statistics. The structural equation model (SEM) generalizes the regression model in several key ways, but the SEM also assumes independence of residuals. The multilevel model (MLM) was…

This study examines the growth and development of structural equation modeling (SEM) from the years 1994 to 2001. The synchronous development and growth of the Structural Equation Modeling journal was also examined. Abstracts located on PsycINFO were used as the primary source of data. The major results of this investigation were clear: (a) The…

The authors investigated 2 issues concerning the power of latent growth modeling (LGM) in detecting linear growth: the effect of the number of repeated measurements on LGM's power in detecting linear growth and the comparison between LGM and some other approaches in terms of power for detecting linear growth. A Monte Carlo simulation design was…

The effects of adult attachment on emotional empathy were investigated using a sample of master's-degree level counseling students. Through structural equation modeling, the authors found that the latent attachment dimensions of avoidance and anxiety work in tandem in their effects on empathy. Lower avoidance and higher anxiety were associated…

Various approaches using the maximum likelihood (ML) option of the LISREL program and products of indicators have been proposed to analyze structural equation models with non-linear latent effects on the basis of Kenny and Judd's formulation. Recently, some methods based on the Bayesian approach and the exact ML approaches have been developed.…

Improper structures arising from the estimation of parameters in structural equation models (SEMs) are commonly an indication that the model is incorrectly specified. The use of boundary solutions cannot in general be recommended. Partly on the basis of theory given by Van Driel, and partly by example, suggestions are made for using the data as…

Researchers are becoming interested in combining meta-analytic techniques and structural equation modeling to test theoretical models from a pool of studies. Most existing procedures are based on the assumption that all correlation matrices are homogeneous. Few studies have addressed what the next step should be when studies being analyzed are…

A model with fixed relations between manifest and latent variables is presented for investigating choice reaction time data. The numbers for fixation originate from the polynomial function. Two options are considered: the component-based (1 latent variable for each component of the polynomial function) and composite-based options (1 latent…

A structural equation modeling approach to scale reliability evaluation can be employed to estimate generalizability theory indexes in settings where sampling of subjects and conditions is carried out. In one- and two-facet crossed designs, it is demonstrated how this method can be used to obtain estimates of relative generalizability…

Amos 5.0 (Arbuckle, 2003) permits exploratory specification searches for the best theoretical model given an initial model using the following fit function criteria: chi-square (C), chi-square--df (C--df), Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), Browne-Cudeck criterion (BCC), Bayes Information Criterion (BIC) , chi-square divided by the degrees of…