Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Mediation Analysis
Demonstration using AMOS
Siny Tsang, M. A.
University of Virginia

November 28, 2013

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

About this demonstration

In this demonstration, the analysis procedures are

performed using IBM SPSS AMOS 21

AMOS is an add-on to the IBM SPSS program, which can

be activated from SPSS > Analyze > IBM SPSS AMOS.

The example in this demonstration uses the

Mediation.sav dataset.

Screenshots of the analysis procedures are provided, but I

would encourage you to run the analyses yourself to follow
along.

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Mediation

The concept of mediation (or indirect effect) implies a

causal hypothesis where an independent variable causes a
dependent variable, through its effect on a mediating
variable (Sobel, 1990).

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Drawing in AMOS
The symbols

Observed variable

Unobserved variable

Regression

Variance

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Drawing in AMOS
The functions

Left click to activate a toolbar function

Left click, hold + drag to draw

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Direct effect
Predict youth delinquency from peer delinquency

Draw the path

diagram in AMOS

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Direct effect
Predict youth delinquency from peer delinquency

Click Calculate
Estimates, or CTRL
+ F9

Click View the

output path
diagram

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Results
from Analysis Output

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Indirect effect
Is there an indirect effect via Partner Delinquency?

Click Calculate
Estimates, or CTRL
+ F9

Click View the

output path
diagram

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

9 of 14

Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Indirect effect
Is there an indirect effect via Partner Delinquency?

Click Calculate
Estimates, or CTRL
+ F9

Click View the

output path
diagram

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

10 of 14

Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Results
from Analysis Output

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Comparing the direct & indirect effects

Direct Effect

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

Indirect Effect

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Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Suggested readings

A very thoughtful book on multiple regression &

interactions (Aiken & West, 1991)

One of the most cited papers about mediation models

(Baron & Kenny, 1986)

A cautionary tale about mediation (Cole & Maxwell, 2003)

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

13 of 14

Overview

Direct effect

Indirect effect

Comments

The example in this demonstration uses artificial data. The

data and findings do not represent actual research findings
nor the authors personal opinions.

If you have any questions regarding the materials

presented, please email your questions to:
Siny Tsang
st2sb[at]virginia.edu

S. Tsang
st2sb@virginia.edu

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