ACSPRI Summer 2016

Applied SEM
using
AMOS

Topic 1: Introduction and Review of

Structural part of the model

Measurement parts of the

model

SEM References
Byrne, B.M. (2010). Structural Equation
Modeling with AMOS: Basic Concepts,
Applications, and Programming. Mahwah,
N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Arbuckle, J. L. (2013). AMOS 21 Users Guide.
Chicago: SPSS Inc.

Exploratory factor analysis: A

review

used more for theory-generating than for

theory-testing:
explore data to determine the number or the
nature of factors that account for the
covariation between variables
when the researcher does not have, a
priori, sufficient evidence to form a
hypothesis about the number of factors
underlying the data.
helpful in assessing the nature of
relationships among variables and in
establishing the construct validity of
test scores.

Data Reduction
Just looking at a questionnaire, can often spot
which Qs go together, sometimes they have been
designed to go together, to measure a particular
aspect of a construct
Inspecting a correlation matrix, can also see
which variables have high correlations
v1v2v3v4v5
v1 1.00 0.75 0.65
v2 0.75 1.00 0.55
v3 0.65 0.55 1.00
v4 0.22 0.10 0.18
v5 0.15 0.20 0.25

0.22
0.10
0.18
1.00
0.80

0.15
0.20
0.25
0.80
1.00

Exploratory Factor
Analysis
Factors

Restrained
eating

Emotional
eating

Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7 Item 8 Item 9 Item 10

Questionnaire Items

Confirmatory Factor
Analysis
Latent
Variables

Restrained
eating

Emotional
eating

Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7 Item 8 Item 9 Item 10

Questionnaire Items

Spatial Representation

Correlations between variables can be represented spatially

Variables with a small angle between them have a high
correlation

Eat less following

Weight gain

Eat less at meals

Eat when discouraged

Eat when lonely

In fact the projection of one variable on the other is the

simple correlation between them
Vectors = arrows

Spatial Representation
So, one may imagine the variables
graphed in a space where highly
correlated variables are close
together,
and uncorrelated ones are
Factor 1
not
Eat less
following
Weight gain

Eat less at meals

Eat when discouraged

Factor 2
Eat when lonely

The factors(the latent variables) will go

through the middle of clusters of variables
(indicators; questionnaire items)

Steps in performing PCA/FA

1. EXTRACTION : Determining
HOW MANY components best
represent the data
2. ROTATION : Making the data
interpretable

Exercise 1
Lets use the dataset Ex
1.1_Eating.sav and work through
exercise 1 in the notes

Limitations of EFA

EFA was designed to fit the data

will find you some factors whether you expected these
factors or not
Interpretation of factors measured by a few variables can be
quite complicated
because the researcher lacks prior knowledge and
therefore has no basis on which to make an
interpretation.
Mulaik (1972): EFA at best suggests hypotheses for further
research; does not justify knowledge.

Confirmatory factor analysis

A theory-testing model as opposed to a theorygenerating method like EFA:
researcher begins with a hypothesis prior to
the analysis.
The model or hypothesis specifies
number of factors
which variables will be correlated with which
factors
which factors are correlated.
The hypothesis should be based on a strong
theoretical and/or empirical foundation
(Stevens, 1996).

CFA

Often used for evaluating construct validity

researcher can explicitly test hypotheses concerning the
factor structure of the data due to having the
predetermined model specifying the number and
composition of the factors.
Intelligence

Verbal Ability

Test
1

Test
2

Test
3

Math Ability

Test
4

Test
5

Test
6

CFA
Allows researcher to compare or test the fit of
different models to the data

Which model will provide

better fit to the data?

Intelligence

Intelligence
Test
1

Test
2

Test
3

Test
4

Test
5

Test
6

Verbal Ability

First order factor model or

second-order factor model?

Test
1

Test
2

Test
3

Math Ability

Test
4

Test
5

Test
6

Using AMOS to test a CFA

Use Ex1.2_CFA IQ
test
Open SPSS, under
analysis youll find
AMOS
(note, sometimes
AMOS is install in
standalone mode. If
so, just open it as a
regular program))

First, run an EFA

Descriptives
Ask for Coefficients, KMO, Bartlett

Extraction
Use maximum likelihood
Ask for scree plot

Rotation
Direct oblim
Rotated solution, loading plots

CFA
2 latent factors
i. Verbal IQ
i.
ii.
iii.

ii.

Information
Comprehension
Vocab

Performance
i.
ii.
iii.

IQ

Picture completion
Block design
Object assembly

See notes for details

Using AMOS to test a CFA

Now try running a CFA on the
Ex1.1_Eating.sav file

Multiple regression revision

r and SEM
SEM is based on the
analysis of
covariance-variance
matrices
AMOS = Analysis Of
Moment Structures
Covariance is the
unstandardised
correlation

Moments:
Mean
Variance
Skewness
Kurtosis
Mixed moments:
Covariance

Goals of correlation
coefficients
1. To obtain an estimate of
- Reliability and validity estimates

2. Calculate coefficient of
determination
- i.e., variance accounted

3. Use in other analyses

- Basis of factor analysis, multiple regression,
SEM, mediation, moderation, MLM

regression

if X and Y are
perfectly
correlated
(r = 1 or -1), then
prediction is easy
in this case, if a person
just
read
off
the
scores 6 on X, they will have
scatterplot
a score of 13 on Y

regression
but correlations are rarely ever perfect!

However we can calculate a line that best represents the general

relationship (or trend) of the data points
The line of best fit (aka the regression line) allows us to make
predictions that are better than if we knew nothing about the
relationship. Can be expressed mathematically (linear regression
equation)

least squares criterion

regression

we can define the regression line

mathematically using a formula - this is the
formula that describes a straight line

where:

Y = bx a

= predicted value of Y
b = slope of regression line
(rate at which Y changes with each 1-unit increase in X)
a = intercept
(the predicted value of Y when X = 0)

Regression using SPSS

Use Ex1.3_Simple regression.sav

SPSS regression output

slope

intercept

standardised regression
equation

Using AMOS to perform

Regression
Use Ex1.4_multiple_regression.sav
Run MR with concentration, perseverance,
attentiveness and purposefulness as predictors of
reading

Now, lets do this in AMOS

Note that we need to specify two
things that SPSS used to do for us: