Applied Structural Equation Modelling using Mplus

This course is designed as an applied introduction to the use of Mplus software for estimateing structural equation models. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is used widely by researchers in a diverse array of fields to find and test complex relationships amongst observed (measured) variables and latent (unobserved) variables and amongst the latent variables themselves. SEM subsumes other analytical techniques such as regression, path analysis, factor analysis, and canonical correlation. Detailed notes with worked examples and references will be provided as a basis for both the lecture and hands-on computing aspect of the course. The course is divided into five parts.
 
Part 1: Fundamentals of SEM. Topics include a revision of factor analysis and regression analysis and their relevance to SEM; the advantages of SEM over conventional analytical techniques; the fundamentals underlying SEM; model conceptualisation, path diagrams, model specification and the Mplus notation; model identification; parameter estimation; assessing model fit; model re-specification; and model cross-validation. Throughout this part of the course participants will be introduced to the Mplus program including how to write Mplus syntax, how to run models and how to review output.
 
Part II: Basic SEM models. This part of the course looks at the three basic types of structural equation models, namely: (i) causal models for directly observed variables (regression and path analysis); (ii) one-factor congeneric measurement models, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and second order CFA; and (iii) full structural equation models with latent variables (including models with mediating variables).
 
Part III: Problems in SEM. This part of the course deals with problem data and difficult models including topics such as the treatment of missing data, treatment of non-continuous variables, treatment of outliers; treatment of non-normal data and small samples, constraining parameters, non-positive definite matrices, negative error variances, unidentified and inadmissible models and recognising equivalent models.
 
Part IV: Introduction to advanced SEM models. This part of the course gives a very basic overview of the topics covered in an advanced SEM course including the testing of model and parameter invariance across groups (multi-group analysis); analysis of interactions; non-linear modeling; mean structure analysis; latent growth-curve modeling; and multi-level SEM.
 
Part V: Personal Research. Finally, the course provides an opportunity for participants to work on their own research problems with the instructor’s assistance. Therefore participants are encouraged to bring a data set and/or research problem with them.

 

 
Level 4 - runs over 5 days
Instructor: 

Mr Philip Holmes-Smith (OAM) is the principal consultant with School Research, Evaluation and Measurements Services (SREAMS), an independent educational research consultancy business. His research, evaluation and measurement interests lie in the areas of teacher effectiveness and school improvement, accountability models and benchmarking, improving the quality of teaching, using student performance data to inform teaching, and large-scale achievement testing programs. He is an experienced teacher of social science research methods and is a regular instructor at the ACSPRI programs. He also regularly teaches Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Multi-Level Analysis (MLA) at various universities around Australia.

Course dates: Monday 16 January 2012 - Friday 20 January 2012
Course status: Course completed (no new applicants)
Week: 
Week 2
Recommended Background: 

Participants must have completed an introductory course in statistics or have equivalent experience. Familiarity with multiple regression and factor analysis is highly desirable, as is experience with a statistical data analysis package such as SPSS, SAS or Stata. However, it is assumed that participants have had little or no experience with Mplus. 
While not a pre-requisite, participants with no previous exposure to structural equation modelling are strongly encouraged to first complete the course 'Fundamentals of Structural Equation Modelling'.

 

Recommended Texts: 

Mplus specific references
• Muthén, L.K. and Muthén, B.O. (1998-2007). Mplus User’s Guide. Fifth Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén

General Introductory SEM references
• Kline, Rex B. (2005). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. (2nd Ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
• Raykov, Tenko & Marcoulides, George A. (2006). A First Course in Structural Equation Modeling. (2nd Ed.). Psychology Press.
• Schumacker, Randall & Lomax, Richard. (2004). A Beginner's Guide to Structural Equation Modeling. (2nd Ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
 

Course fees
Member: 
$1,590
Non Member: 
$2,850
Full time student Member: 
$1,590