Deck 22: Primer on Structural Equations Modeling

Question 1

AMOS stands for Analytical Modeling of Structures.

Answer 1

True
AMOS stands for Analysis of Moment Structures.

Question 2

A fixed parameter is one that has been correctly estimated.

Answer 2

False
A fixed parameter is one for which the value is specified by the analyst or software.

Question 3

If the CFI is close to 1,the model is considered a relatively good fit.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The χ² test is completed by examining the computed value with the critical value of the t-distribution for the appropriate number of degrees of freedom.

Question 5

The comparative fix index (CFI)provides an index showing the fit of a model relative to a null model.

Question 6

Fit compares the theoretical covariance matrix with the observed covariance matrix.

Question 7

Structural equation modeling (SEM)is unique in that it is purely an interdependence technique.

Question 8

As the sample size increases in a χ² test,the likelihood of finding a significant result becomes greater.

Question 9

Structural equations modeling (SEM)allows a researcher to build and test a theory by assessing its fit with reality.

Question 10

Structural equations modeling was first introduced in the 1970s.

Question 11

Exogenous constructs are the latent variable equivalent of independent variables.

Question 12

Fit assesses how well a theory meshes with reality.

Question 13

LISREL is the first widely adopted specialized software program for conducting structural equations modeling.

Question 14

SEM conventionally uses maximum likelihood estimation.

Question 15

SEM uses the term moment to represent a unique piece of information that serves as input to the model.

Question 16

A free parameter is estimated by the SEM program.

Question 17

Multidimensional scaling is a type of dependence method.

Question 18

The comparative fit index (CFI)can range from -1 to +1.

Question 19

Analysts apply SEM when prediction is more important than explanation.

Question 20

AMOS is logistic regression software.

Question 21

A parameter used in the SEM model that is set to a particular value is said to be ____.

A)fixed
B)free
C)endogenous
D)exogenous

Question 22

A type of factor analysis in which the researcher specifies the measured variables that indicate specific constructs based on theory is called ____.

A)confirmatory factor analysis
B)root mean square estimation
C)comparative fit
D)multidimensional scaling

Question 23

The latent variable equivalent of dependent variables is called a ____.

A)free construct
B)exogenous construct
C)endogenous construct
D)fixed construct

Question 24

Which element assesses how well a theory meshes with reality by comparing the theoretical covariance matrix with the observed covariance matrix?

A)LISREL
B)AMOS
C)moment
D)fit

Question 25

Which of the following is a statistic providing an indication of the average squared residual resulting from fitting an SEM model?

A)SYSLIN
B)LISREL
C)CFI
D)RMSEA

Question 26

Which technique allows a researcher to build and test a theory represented by a series of regression equations,each involving multiple item measures that are solved simultaneously?

A)structural equations modeling
B)synergistic regression
C)sequential regression modeling
D)sequential estimation modeling (SEM)

Question 27

Endogenous constructs are the latent variable equivalent of dummy variables.

Question 28

The ____ is a unique piece of information that serves as input to a SEM model.

A)LISREL
B)AMOS
C)moment
D)fit

Question 29

Partial least squares (PLS)is only able to provide reliable results when there is large amounts of data.

Question 30

General Mills would like to "see" a picture of how its brands are perceived by consumers compared to competitive brands.Which statistical technique can measure brands in multidimensional space on the basis of respondents' judgments of the similarity of the brands?

A)structural equations modeling
B)factor analysis
C)multidimensional scaling
D)partial positioning

Question 31

Partial least squares (PLS)is particularly useful when the data are messy,difficult to obtain,and/or the measurement quality is not strong enough for use in SEM.

Question 32

Which of the following is a goodness of fit index?

A)SYSLIN
B)LISREL
C)CFI
D)RMSEA

Question 33

Which coefficient functions similarly to a regression coefficient in multiple regression?

A)confirmatory coefficient
B)PLS coefficient
C)moment coefficient
D)structural coefficient

Question 34

The first widely adopted specialized software program for conducting structural equations modeling was ____.

A)LISREL
B)AMOS
C)moment
D)fit

Question 35

Which method is an example of an interdependence analysis?

A)multidimensional scaling
B)multiple regression analysis
C)conjoint analysis
D)cluster analysis

Question 36

The latent variable equivalent of an independent variable is called a ____.

A)free construct
B)exogenous construct
C)endogenous construct
D)fixed construct

Question 37

Unlike SEM,partial least squares (PLS)does not provide a test of fit and is not a covariance-based technique.

Question 38

Partial least squares (PLS)originated in the physical sciences.

Question 39

What is a multivariate tool that combines a factor analytic and regression approach to provide path estimates to a proposed model,but falls short of providing an assessment of fit?

A)partial least squares (PLS)
B)MANOVA
C)partial correlations
D)discriminant analysis

Question 40

A parameter that will be estimated by the SEM procedures is said to be ____.

A)fixed
B)free
C)endogenous
D)exogenous

Question 41

The first widely adopted specialized software program for conducting structural equations modeling was ____________________.

Question 42

In a covariance matrix,the diagonal ____.

A)always contains values of 1.0
B)portrays the relationship between each pair of variables
C)is treated as a fixed variable and input into the model
D)represents the variance in each individual variable

Question 43

Which method is particularly likely to be plagued by data anomalies such as implausible results or unstable solutions?

A)partial least squares
B)MANOVA
C)maximum likelihood
D)logistic regression

Question 44

A(n)____________________ is a unique piece of information that serves as input to a SEM model.

Question 45

Which formula correctly represents unique moments?

A)unique moments = m(m + 1)/ 2
B)unique moments = m(m + 1)* 2
C)unique moments = m(m + 1)2
D)unique moments = m/1 * 2

Question 46

The comparative fit index can range from ____.

A)-1 to 0
B)-1 to +1
C)-0.5 to 0.5
D)0 to +1

Question 47

Which technique provides a means for measuring objects in a multidimensional space based on respondents' judgments of how similar different objects are?

A)partial least squares (PLS)
B)multidimensional scaling
C)partial correlations
D)discriminant analysis

Question 48

Which technique combines a PCA-based factor analytic approach with a least squares based regression approach?

A)partial least squares (PLS)
B)multidimensional scaling
C)partial correlations
D)discriminant analysis

Question 49

____________________ allows a researcher to build and test a theory represented by a series of regression equations that are solved simultaneously.

Question 50

Which RMSEA value indicates a model is a relatively good fit?

A)0.01
B)0.5
C)0.7
D)0.98

Question 51

A statistical technique that measures objects in multidimensional space on the basis of respondents' judgments of the similarity of objects is ____________________.

Question 52

Which CFI value indicates that a model is a relatively good fit?

A)0.01
B)0.05
C)0.5
D)0.98

Question 53

The SEM software that allows users to use a graphical interface is called ____________________.

Question 54

Because the χ² test used in SEM is a function of ____,a good model could get rejected just because the amount of power.

A)comparative fit index
B)maximum data value
C)sample size
D)RMSEA

Question 55

SEM provides a statistical assessment of fit with ____,which is a function of the residual obtained from taking ∑ from S

A)χ2
B)MANOVA
C)CFI
D)RMSEA

Question 56

What technique combines a PCA-based measurement approach with a least-squares based regression approach?

A)LISREL
B)CFI
C)PLS
D)RMSEA

Question 57

Which technique is particularly useful when the measurement quality is not strong?

A)partial least squares (PLS)
B)multidimensional scaling
C)partial correlations
D)discriminant analysis

Question 58

Which CFI value indicates that a model is a relatively poor fit?

A)0.01
B)0.5
C)0.75
D)0.98

Question 59

SEM is used when ____.

A)explanation is just as important as prediction
B)explanation is more important than prediction
C)explanation is not important
D)explanation is less important than prediction

Question 60

If there are five measured variables,how many unique moments exist?

A)1
B)5
C)15
D)20

Question 61

Discuss the difference between exogenous constructs and endogenous constructs.

Question 62

Explain the comparative fit index (CFI)and how it is used to determine fit.

Question 63

The ____________________ is a goodness of fit index suggesting fit relative to a null model.

Question 64

List the steps to follow to interpret structural model results.

Question 65

____________________ function as regression coefficients in multiple regression.

Question 66

Fit assesses how well a theory meshes with ____________________.

Question 67

The ____________________ is a statistic providing an indication of the average squared residual resulting from fitting an SEM model.

Question 68

If the value of a parameter is set to a specific value in estimating an SEM model,the parameter is said to be ____________________.

Question 69

____________________ is an interdependence technique that is often based on respondents' judgments of how similar different objects are on several characteristics.

Question 70

Exogenous constructs are the latent variable equivalent of ____________________ variables.

Question 71

Endogenous constructs are the latent variable equivalent of ____________________ variables.

Question 72

Discuss partial least squares estimation and explain when it is particularly useful.

Question 73

Explain the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)and how it is used to determine fit.

Question 74

A multivariate technique that combines a PCA-based factor analytical approach with a least squares based regression approach is ____________________.

Question 75

If the value for a specific parameter will be estimated by the SEM procedures,the parameter is said to be ____________________.