Structural Equation Modeling and Natural Systems

Structural Equation Modeling and Natural Systems
Author: James B. Grace
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 26
Release: 2006-08-17
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1139457845

This book, first published in 2006, presents an introduction to the methodology of structural equation modeling, illustrates its use, and goes on to argue that it has revolutionary implications for the study of natural systems. A major theme of this book is that we have, up to this point, attempted to study systems primarily using methods (such as the univariate model) that were designed only for considering individual processes. Understanding systems requires the capacity to examine simultaneous influences and responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) has such capabilities. It also possesses many other traits that add strength to its utility as a means of making scientific progress. In light of the capabilities of SEM, it can be argued that much of ecological theory is currently locked in an immature state that impairs its relevance. It is further argued that the principles of SEM are capable of leading to the development and evaluation of multivariate theories of the sort vitally needed for the conservation of natural systems.

Structural Equation Modeling

Structural Equation Modeling
Author: Bruce H. Pugesek
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 427
Release: 2003-01-23
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1139435396

Structural equation modelling (SEM) is a technique that is used to estimate, analyse and test models that specify relationships among variables. The ability to conduct such analyses is essential for many problems in ecology and evolutionary biology. This book begins by explaining the theory behind the statistical methodology, including chapters on conceptual issues, the implementation of an SEM study and the history of the development of SEM. The second section provides examples of analyses on biological data including multi-group models, means models, P-technique and time-series. The final section of the book deals with computer applications and contrasts three popular SEM software packages. Aimed specifically at biological researchers and graduate students, this book will serve as valuable resource for both learning and teaching the SEM methodology. Moreover, data sets and programs that are presented in the book can also be downloaded from a website to assist the learning process.

Structural Equation Modeling With AMOS

Structural Equation Modeling With AMOS
Author: Barbara M. Byrne
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2001-04
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1135667683

This book illustrates the ease with which AMOS 4.0 can be used to address research questions that lend themselves to structural equation modeling (SEM). This goal is achieved by: 1) presenting a nonmathematical introduction to the basic concepts and appli.

Cause and Correlation in Biology

Cause and Correlation in Biology
Author: Bill Shipley
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2002-08
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780521529211

This book goes beyond the truism that 'correlation does not imply causation' and explores the logical and methodological relationships between correlation and causation. It presents a series of statistical methods that can test, and potentially discover, cause-effect relationships between variables in situations in which it is not possible to conduct randomised or experimentally controlled experiments. Many of these methods are quite new and most are generally unknown to biologists. In addition to describing how to conduct these statistical tests, the book also puts the methods into historical context and explains when they can and cannot justifiably be used to test or discover causal claims. Written in a conversational style that minimises technical jargon, the book is aimed at practising biologists and advanced students, and assumes only a very basic knowledge of introductory statistics.

Structural Equation Models

Structural Equation Models
Author: J. Christopher Westland
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2015-04-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319165070

This compact reference surveys the full range of available structural equation modeling (SEM) methodologies. It reviews applications in a broad range of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences where many key concepts are not directly observable. This is the first book to present SEM’s development in its proper historical context–essential to understanding the application, strengths and weaknesses of each particular method. This book also surveys the emerging path and network approaches that complement and enhance SEM, and that will grow importance in the near future. SEM’s ability to accommodate unobservable theory constructs through latent variables is of significant importance to social scientists. Latent variable theory and application are comprehensively explained and methods are presented for extending their power, including guidelines for data preparation, sample size calculation and the special treatment of Likert scale data. Tables of software, methodologies and fit statistics provide a concise reference for any research program, helping assure that its conclusions are defensible and publishable.

Ecological Statistics

Ecological Statistics
Author: Gordon A. Fox
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 407
Release: 2015
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0199672547

The application and interpretation of statistics are central to ecological study and practice. Ecologists are now asking more sophisticated questions than in the past. These new questions, together with the continued growth of computing power and the availability of new software, have created a new generation of statistical techniques. These have resulted in major recent developments in both our understanding and practice of ecological statistics. This novel book synthesizes a number of these changes, addressing key approaches and issues that tend to be overlooked in other books such as missing/censored data, correlation structure of data, heterogeneous data, and complex causal relationships. These issues characterize a large proportion of ecological data, but most ecologists' training in traditional statistics simply does not provide them with adequate preparation to handle the associated challenges. Uniquely, Ecological Statistics highlights the underlying links among many statistical approaches that attempt to tackle these issues. In particular, it gives readers an introduction to approaches to inference, likelihoods, generalized linear (mixed) models, spatially or phylogenetically-structured data, and data synthesis, with a strong emphasis on conceptual understanding and subsequent application to data analysis. Written by a team of practicing ecologists, mathematical explanations have been kept to the minimum necessary. This user-friendly textbook will be suitable for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of ecology, evolution, environmental studies, and computational biology who are interested in updating their statistical tool kits. A companion web site provides example data sets and commented code in the R language.

Handbook of Structural Equation Modeling

Handbook of Structural Equation Modeling
Author: Rick H. Hoyle
Publisher: Guilford Publications
Total Pages: 801
Release: 2023-02-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1462544649

"This accessible volume presents both the mechanics of structural equation modeling (SEM) and specific SEM strategies and applications. The editor, along with an international group of contributors, and editorial advisory board are leading methodologists who have organized the book to move from simpler material to more statistically complex modeling approaches. Sections cover the foundations of SEM; statistical underpinnings, from assumptions to model modifications; steps in implementation, from data preparation through writing the SEM report; and basic and advanced applications, including new and emerging topics in SEM. Each chapter provides conceptually oriented descriptions, fully explicated analyses, and engaging examples that reveal modeling possibilities for use with readers' data. Many of the chapters also include access to data and syntax files at the companion website, allowing readers to try their hands at reproducing the authors' results"--

Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R

Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R
Author: Joseph F. Hair Jr.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2021-11-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3030805190

Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has become a standard approach for analyzing complex inter-relationships between observed and latent variables. Researchers appreciate the many advantages of PLS-SEM such as the possibility to estimate very complex models and the method’s flexibility in terms of data requirements and measurement specification. This practical open access guide provides a step-by-step treatment of the major choices in analyzing PLS path models using R, a free software environment for statistical computing, which runs on Windows, macOS, and UNIX computer platforms. Adopting the R software’s SEMinR package, which brings a friendly syntax to creating and estimating structural equation models, each chapter offers a concise overview of relevant topics and metrics, followed by an in-depth description of a case study. Simple instructions give readers the “how-tos” of using SEMinR to obtain solutions and document their results. Rules of thumb in every chapter provide guidance on best practices in the application and interpretation of PLS-SEM.

Structural Equation Modeling

Structural Equation Modeling
Author: David Kaplan
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2008-07-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 148334259X

Using detailed, empirical examples, Structural Equation Modeling, Second Edition, presents a thorough and sophisticated treatment of the foundations of structural equation modeling (SEM). It also demonstrates how SEM can provide a unique lens on the problems social and behavioral scientists face. Intended Audience While the book assumes some knowledge and background in statistics, it guides readers through the foundations and critical assumptions of SEM in an easy-to-understand manner.

Structural Equation Modeling

Structural Equation Modeling
Author: Jichuan Wang
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 662
Release: 2019-09-17
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1119422728

Presents a useful guide for applications of SEM whilst systematically demonstrating various SEM models using Mplus Focusing on the conceptual and practical aspects of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this book demonstrates basic concepts and examples of various SEM models, along with updates on many advanced methods, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with categorical items, bifactor model, Bayesian CFA model, item response theory (IRT) model, graded response model (GRM), multiple imputation (MI) of missing values, plausible values of latent variables, moderated mediation model, Bayesian SEM, latent growth modeling (LGM) with individually varying times of observations, dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM), residual dynamic structural equation modeling (RDSEM), testing measurement invariance of instrument with categorical variables, longitudinal latent class analysis (LLCA), latent transition analysis (LTA), growth mixture modeling (GMM) with covariates and distal outcome, manual implementation of the BCH method and the three-step method for mixture modeling, Monte Carlo simulation power analysis for various SEM models, and estimate sample size for latent class analysis (LCA) model. The statistical modeling program Mplus Version 8.2 is featured with all models updated. It provides researchers with a flexible tool that allows them to analyze data with an easy-to-use interface and graphical displays of data and analysis results. Intended as both a teaching resource and a reference guide, and written in non-mathematical terms, Structural Equation Modeling: Applications Using Mplus, 2nd edition provides step-by-step instructions of model specification, estimation, evaluation, and modification. Chapters cover: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA); Structural Equation Models (SEM); SEM for Longitudinal Data; Multi-Group Models; Mixture Models; and Power Analysis and Sample Size Estimate for SEM. Presents a useful reference guide for applications of SEM while systematically demonstrating various advanced SEM models Discusses and demonstrates various SEM models using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data with both continuous and categorical outcomes Provides step-by-step instructions of model specification and estimation, as well as detailed interpretation of Mplus results using real data sets Introduces different methods for sample size estimate and statistical power analysis for SEM Structural Equation Modeling is an excellent book for researchers and graduate students of SEM who want to understand the theory and learn how to build their own SEM models using Mplus.