Latent Variable
Research

(Updated 5/17/13--Previous updates 1/23/13, 12/26/12, 2/6/12, 8/21/11, 6/09/10, 
                                 5/12/09, 4/3/09, 2/09/09, 6/12/08, 1/31/08, 10/26/07,
                                12/11/06)

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FOREWORD--This website concerns testing theoretical models (hypothesis testing) 
   using latent variables and (real world) survey data (with or without interactions or quadratics).

It is intended primarily for PhD students and researchers who are just getting started 
   with testing latent variable models using survey data. It contains, for example, 
   suggestions for reusing one's data for a second paper to help reduce "time 
   between papers." It also contains comments on finding a consistent set of items 
   (i.e., a set of items that fit the data), how to specify latent variables with only 
   1 or 2 indicators, how to improve Average Variance Extracted, a monograph on 
   estimating latent variables, and selected papers.

News:

   A paper about reusing a data set to create a second theory-test paper is available
   (to help reduce the "time between papers"). It turns out that an editor might 
   not object to a paper that reuses data which has been used in a previously 
   published paper, if the new paper's theory/model is "interesting" and materially 
   different from the previously published paper. The paper on reusing data discusses 
   how submodels from a previous paper might be found for a second paper that may 
   not require collecting new data. (Please click here for more.)
 

Recent Additions and Changes (indicated by "New," "Revised" or "Updated"):
   o comments on specifying and estimating a manifest, observed, continuous, single-
      indicator, etc. variable as a latent variable, 
   o suggestions for specifying and estimating a latent variable with only 2 indicators, 
   o comments on the use of regression in theoretical model (hypothesis) testing.
   o an EXCEL template to "weed" a measure so it "fits the data" (i.e., so it is 
      internally consistent) is new, and
   o several papers have been added, including one titled "What is Structural Equation 
      Analysis?" that may be useful to those who would like to quickly understand 
      structural equation analysis.
   o Some of the material below is duplicated on the "Latent Variable Interactions and 
      Quadratics" web page (click here to view that web page).

Please note: If you have visited this web site before, and the latest 
   "Updated" date (at the top of the page) seems old, you may want to click on your browser's 
   "Refresh" or "Reload" button on the browser toolbar (above) to view the current 
   version of this web page.

All the material on this web site is copyrighted, but you may save it and print it 
   out. My only request is that you please cite any material that is helpful to you. APA 
   citations for the material below are shown with the material.

Don't forget to Refresh: Many of the links on this web site are in Microsoft WORD.
   If you have viewed one or more of them before, the procedure to view the latest
   (refreshed) version of them is tedious ("Refresh" does not work for Word documents
   on the web). With my apologies for the tediousness, to refresh any (and all) Word
   documents, please click on "Tools" on the browser toolbar (above), then click on
   "Internet Options...." Next, in the "General" tab, find the "Temporary Internet Files"
   section and click on "Delete Files...." Then, click in the "Delete all offline content" box,
   and click "OK." After that, close this browser window, then re-launch it so the latest
   versions of all the WORD documents are forced to download.

Your questions and comments are encouraged; just send an e-mail to 
rping@wright.edu. 

Latent Variables:

EXCEL Template for "weeding" measures to attain internal consistency 
(making a multi-item measure fit the data).

(CLICK
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(New)

For "weeding" a multi-item measure so it "fits the data" (i.e., finding 
   a set of items that "fits the data," so the measure is internally 
   consistent).
Note: In real-world data, there frequently are multiple subsets of a 
   multi-item measure that will "fit the data," and this raises the issue 
   of which of these subsets is "best" from a validity standpoint. This 
   template helps find at least one more subset of items, usually with 
   a maximal number of items (typically different from the one found 
   by maximizing reliability), that will "fit the data." The template then 
   can be used to search for additional subsets of items that will also 
   fit the data, and thus it helps find the "best" face- or content valid 
   subset of items in a measure. More about the template.

On-Line Monograph: 

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TESTING LATENT VARIABLE MODELS WITH SURVEY DATA (2nd Edn.)

The results of a large study of theoretical model (hypothesis) testing 
   practices using survey data, with critical analyses, suggestions and 
   examples. Potentially of interest to Ph.D. students and researchers 
   who conduct or teach theoretical model testing using survey data. 
   Contents include the six steps in theoretical model (hypothesis) 
   testing using survey data; Scenario Analysis; alternatives to 
   dropping items to attain model-to-data fit; inadmissible solutions 
   with remedies; interactions and quadratics; and pedagogical 
   examples (177 pp.).

Of particular interest lately is how to efficiently and effectively "weed" items to 
   attain a consistent measure (see STEP V, PROCEDURES FOR ATTAINING...).

The APA citation for this on-line monograph is Ping, R.A. (2004). Testing latent 
   variable models with survey data, 2nd edition. [on-line monograph]. 
   http://home.att.net/~rpingjr/lv1/toc1.htm .

Selected Papers on Latent Variables:

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"On Assuring Valid Measures for Theoretical Models Using Survey 
   Data" (An earlier version of Ping 2004, J. of Bus. Res., revised 
   December 2006).

The paper reviews and comments on extant procedures for creating valid 
   and reliable latent variable measures. (Please be patient, the download is a 
   little long). 

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