PSYED 3417
Syllabus
PSYED 3417: Structural Equation Modeling
School of Education
University of Pittsburgh
Spring, 2015
Instructor:
Time:
Phone:
Office Hours:
Feifei Ye
1:00-3:40 Tuesday
412-624-7233
4-5pm, Monday
Location:
Office:
Email:
5520B WWPH
5924 WWPH
feifeiye@pitt.edu
Course Overview:
This course will introduce structural equation modeling (SEM). Some fundamental materials
necessary for SEM will be reviewed; i.e., matrix algebra, covariance algebra, multiple
regression, and factor analysis. SEM is a family of techniques. Some of the different SEM
techniques that will be discussed include path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, general
SEM and mediation/moderation models. Advance SEM techniques will also be discussed, e.g.,
mean and covariance SEM, latent growth curve models, multi-sample/multi-group SEM, dealing
with missing and non-normal data, and mixture modeling.
Prerequisites
PSYED 2410 (Applied Regression) or equivalent
Text
Required:
Kaplan, D. (2009). Structural equation modeling: foundations and extensions (2nd ed). Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Lecture notes and handouts: Lecture notes (copies of slides presented in class), handouts, and
additional articles or monographs on relevant topics will be made available on the course web.
Recommended:
Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Byrne, Barbara (2011). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications,
and programming. New York, NY: Routledge.
Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practices of structural equation modeling (3rd ed). New York:
The Guilford Press.
O’Rourke, N., & Hatcher, L. (2013). A step-by-step approach to using SAS for factor analysis and
structural equation modeling (2nd edition). Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
Computing
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PSYED 3417
Syllabus
We will mainly use SAS and Mplus. SAS is available for free at Pitt software download. Fullversion of Mplus is available on the five desktops in the last row of room 5520B Posvar Hall. A
demo version can be downloaded from http://www.statmodel.com/demo.shtml. The Mplus
Demo Version is limited only by the number of observed variables that can be used in an
analysis. Following are the limitations:
– Maximum number of dependent variables: 6
– Maximum number of independent variables: 2
– Maximum number of between variables in two-level analysis: 2
Evaluation
Homework:
There are a total of eight assignments. Each assignment will be worth 10
points. All assignments turned in after the due date will be docked 20% of the
assignment total for each day late. Extensions will be granted only in the case
of personal emergency.
Article Critique: There will be 2 article critique of SEM papers following the review guideline
provided on the course web. The articles will be chosen by you. It can be in
any discipline as long as the author(s) performed SEM. Each article critique
paper will be 3 to 5 pages. Each article critique paper will be worth 50 points.
Letter grades will be based on actual points earned as follows:
Point
Above 96%
90-96%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
Letter
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
Point
65-69%
60-64%
55-59%
50-54%
Below 50
Letter
C+
C
CD
F
For students who choose to audit, there is no requirement and it is up to you regarding whether to
complete assignments or article critique.
If unforeseen events (such as major illness) prevent a student from timely completion of course
work, he/she may request a meeting with the instructor to discuss the possibility of earning a “G”
grade for the term. If both student and instructor agree to the “G” grade, they collaboratively write
a document that describes exactly what the student needs to do to complete the required course
work and the time frame within which he/she must do so.
“G” grades are rarely given and only in unusual circumstances.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The federal government policies governing educational loans stipulate that
a student must be making good progress toward his/her degree in order to continue to be eligible
for financial assistance. “Good progress” is measured in part by the student’s completion of at least
2/3 of all credits for which he/she is registered. Thus, receiving a “G” grade which indicates that
the course has NOT been completed may negatively impact a student’s ability to receive federallysubsidized loans.
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PSYED 3417
Syllabus
Tentative Course Outline
Reading (Kaplan)
Assignment
Week Date
Topic
1
01/06/2015
Intro to SEM & Covariance Algebra
2
01/13/2015
Exploratory Factor Analysis
Chapter 3.1-3.6
HW1
3
01/20/2015
Path Analysis
Chapters 2 & 6
HW2
4
01/27/2015
Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Chapters 3.7-3.8
HW3
5
02/03/2015
SEM with latent variables (I)
Chapters 4.1-4.3, 6
HW4
6
02/10/2015
SEM with latent variables (II)
Chapters 4.1-4.3, 6
7
02/17/2015
SEM w/ Categorical and/or Missing Data
Chapter 5
8
02/24/2015
Mediation
9
03/03/2015
Multi-sample SEM
10
03/10/2015
No class (spring break)
11
03/17/2015
12
Due Date
Chapter 1
HW5
Chapters 4.4, 4.7
HW6
Latent growth curve modeling (I)
Chapter 8
HW7
03/24/2015
Latent growth curve modeling (II)
Chapter 8
HW8
13
03/31/2015
Mixture Modeling
Chapter 9
14
04/07/2015
Multilevel SEM
Chapter 7
15
04/14/2015
Power and sample size
16
04/21/2015
No class (Individual consultation)
Article
Critique 1
Article
Critique 2
3