From CRMDA
Structural Equation Modeling: Foundations
Five-day Course • June 3 - 7, 2013• Lawrence, Kansas
Presented by the Quantitative Training Program of Psychology and the Center for Research Methods and Data Analysis at the University of Kansas.
Institute Overview
This institute on the principles of structural equation modeling, sponsored by the University of Kansas Center for Research Methods and Data Analysis, is an intensive short course in the fundamentals of covariance structure analysis. Topics include confirmatory factor analysis, multiple-group comparisons, factorial invariance as well as extended applications such as hierarchical models, multi-level SEM, and multi-trait-multi-method analyses.
Todd D. Little of the University of Kansas Department of Psychology and the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies leads the course. Little is known internationally for his ability to communicate often-complicated SEM material to audiences at all levels of experience and background. Noel A. Card is the co-instructor for the course. Card has received many accolades for his skills at teaching and consulting about SEM issues and concepts.
The five-day institute sessions will be Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. There also will be an optional consultation session from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.
Comments from Past Participants
"The summer institute provides an excellent mix of introductory and advanced topics. Recent developments were made accessible along with the classic basics of SEM. The faculty and staff brought great energy, intelligence, and enthusiasm for SEM to the institute. They are very knowledgeable, friendly, and available, and they put great effort in to engaging all the participants. For me the institute was a delightful week filled with progress in conceptual knowledge and procedural skill. I will strongly recommend it to colleagues." – Allan R. Harkness, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, The University of Tulsa
Objectives
The institute on Structural Equation Modeling: Foundations and Extended Applications will enable participants to:
Acquire a basic understanding of structural equation modeling techniques as applied in the social and behavioral sciences. Develop a clear understanding of the conceptual basis of SEM and an appreciation of its mathematical basis. Gain knowledge of the ways in which one should formulate models, test alternative models, and evaluate models with regard to statistical and practical significance. Become acquainted with a variety of models that are special cases of the fundamental SEM model (e.g., HLM, growth curve). Become proficient in the use of the program(s) LISREL 8.8x and/or Mplus 5.x for analysis of structural models.
Comments from Past Participants
"Dr. Little has a remarkable ability of presenting the core and more advanced features of SEM in a manner that allows one to maximize the absorption of the content." – Brian Thomas, Graduate Student, Georgia Tech University
"The summer institute helped me understand complex statistical procedures that used to confuse me. Dr. Little used analogies and real-world examples to illuminate the technique of structural equation modeling. I also learned about useful tricks of the trade and new, state-of-the-art variants of SEM." – Abby Heckman, Graduate Student, Georgia Tech University
Audience
If you need to analyze the covariance structure of multivariate data and have a basic statistical background, this course is for you. You should have a good working knowledge of the principles and practice of multiple regression and elementary statistical inference. You do not need to know matrix algebra, calculus, or likelihood theory, although that knowledge would be beneficial.
Participants from a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, education, human development, marketing, business, biology, medicine, political science, and communication, will benefit from the course.
The course will emphasize LISREL 8.8x and Mplus 5.x equally, as well as SAS®. Some assistance will be available for questions related to other structural modeling packages. No previous knowledge of LISREL or Mplus is assumed. Furthermore, nearly all the techniques taught in the course can be translated fairly easily to most other packages.
Comments from Past Participants
"This one-week intensive course in SEM offers an excellent overview of the principles & applications of SEM. The material is presented in an easy, digestible format. Additionally, the course is individually meaningful in that Dr. Little and Dr. Card offer time to meet on individual projects." – Laura E. Dreer, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Research Associate, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Instructors
Todd D. Little, Ph.D., is a professor of quantitative psychology at the University of Kansas and director of the KU Center for Research Methods and Data Analysis. He holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California-Riverside.
Noel A. Card, Ph.D., is an associate professor in Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Arizona. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from St. John's University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in quantitative and developmental psychology at the University of Kansas. Noel has received many accolades for his skills at teaching and consulting on SEM issues and concepts, and has worked extensively in applying SEM to longitudinal and dyadic data.
Comments from Past Participants
"This course was the most useful statistical training course I've ever had! The instructors are down to earth and practical in their teaching style and the classroom environment was relaxed and non-threatening, which is necessary for such a potentially daunting topic. In particular, the one-on-one private consultation with my own data was invaluable." – Anonymous comment from the participant satisfaction survey
"The SEM Foundations States Camp class has equipped me to move my research and teaching to a new level. The instructors were crystal clear in explaining very complex concepts. In addition to the highest quality of teaching, the resources provided - from well-designed PowerPoints to syntax to KUant Guides - makes this camp an incredible bargain. I highly recommend KU Stats Camp to any researcher interested in incorporating cutting edge statistical techniques into their research." – Leisha DeHart Davis, Department of Public Administration, University of Kansas
Software and Computer Support
Students should bring a laptop with a fully functioning version of Mplus, LISREL, or lavaan (in R) software. The lavaan software is a freeware package that also has a LISREL to lavaan translator and is fully supported in the Window's or Mac environments. Students who do not have access to software will be given temporary access to our WinStat system that contains fully functioning versions of our supported and recommended SEM software.
You will receive a thumb drive containing all course materials, including PowerPoint slides, LISREL and Mplus scripts, output files, relevant supporting documentation, and recommended readings
Syllabus
Structural Equation Modeling: Foundations and Extended Applications
Todd D. Little and Noel A. Card
University of Kansas and University of Arizona
| Monday | June 3, 2013 |
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Welcome & Introductions |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Philosophy (1) |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Psychometrics (2) |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch * |
| 1:00 – 2:30 | Defining constructs (3) |
| 2:30 – 5:00 | Identification (4) |
| 5:00 – 8:30 | Free BBQ (burgers, veggie burgers, brats) and open beer/wine bar at Holiday Inn |
| Tuesday | June 4, 2013 |
| 9:00 – 10:15 | LISREL and Mplus examples of Identification & Scale setting |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Confirmatory Factor Analysis I – Introduction to CFA (5) |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch * |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Missing data, power (8) |
| 3:15 – 4:30 | Parcels & Parceling (6) |
| 4:30 – 5:00 | Homework packet |
| 5:45 | Free Bus to Downtown Departs |
| 6:30 – 8:00 | Optional evening session for homework or personal data analysis projects |
| 8:45 | Free Bus returns from Downtown |
| Wednesday | June 5, 2013 |
| 9:00 – 10:15 | Confirmatory Factor Analysis II – Comparing models; fit indices (7) |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Multiple group CFA – Testing for configural & weak invariance (9) |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch * |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Multiple group CFA – Testing for strong invariance (9) |
| 3:15 – 5:00 | Multiple group CFA – Testing and comparing latent parameters (9) |
| 5:45 | Free Bus to Downtown Departs |
| 6:30 – 8:00 | Optional evening session for homework or personal data analysis projects |
| 8:45 | Free Bus returns from Downtown |
| Thursday | June 6, 2013 |
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Wrap-up/catch-up on multiple group CFA |
| 10:15 – 12:00 | Longitudinal CFA & SEM (10) |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch * |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Latent regression models & structural equations (11) |
| 3:15 – 5:00 | Mediators and moderators (12) |
| 5:45 | Free Bus to Downtown Departs |
| 6:30 – 8:00 | Optional evening session for homework or personal data analysis projects |
| 8:45 | Free Bus returns from Downtown |
| Friday | June 7, 2013 |
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Multitrait, multimethod (MTMM) models (13) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Hierarchical structural models (13) |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Basic of growth curve modeling (14) |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch * |
| 1:00 – 1:30 | (over lunch) Writing results, cautions, & wrap up |
| 1:30 – 5:00 | Individual consultation on data analysis projects |
* Our group lunch is included in the Holiday Inn room rate and tickets for the group lunch are also available for purchase for those not staying at the Holiday Inn. There are other lunch options in Lawrence as well.
Comments from Past Participants
"The instructor's clear and practical presentation of material that was once intimidating to me has uncovered a powerful analytic tool. I feel comfortable that I've learned the correct application of SEM from experts in the field. At the same time, I was introduced to cutting edge techniques and I understand the advantages of their use." – Jenny Tehan, Graduate Student, Georgia Institute of Technology
"I am walking away from this training with far more confidence in my SEM skills than I honestly anticipated. I also feel like my view of research in general has been greatly expanded. As someone who teaches research and statistics at the graduate level, I wish I had done this course years ago." – Anonymous comment from the participant satisfaction survey
"I would certainly recommend the workshop. In particular, I would recommend the workshop to people in mid-career who may not have had formal or graduate instruction in these methods but who regularly confront SEM in their reading, reviewing, and collaborations with other researchers. The instructors review the surprising scope and flexibility of these methods, as well as the numerous analytic problems and challenges that can be met with these techniques. One can appreciate why SEM has seen such wide adoption. At the same time, the instructors were frank about the complexity and potential disadvantages of SEM applications. In all, this workshop helped me not only to catch up with the state of the art, but it has also stretched my imagination for research design." – David J. Ekerdt, Interim Director , Gerontology Center, University of Kansas
"The RDA summer institute on SEM is a MUST for both graduate students and social scientists to familiarize with the theory and applications of SEM. This is one of the best if not even BEST, introductory SEM learning experiences. The quality of each session was wrapped in an excellent mix of breadth and depth of information. The sessions were very informal and comfortable which lead to an enhanced SEM learning experience. Compared to several other SEM workshops that I previously participated in, RDA's was the BEST introduction. Thank you for this very well organized workshop." – Dan Grigororrci, IBM Research Fellow, Pennsylvania State University
Course Files
Below are links to course files for those who enrolled in the course. The files are password protected to respect the intellectual property rights of the instructors. By using your login information you agree not to share your login information or the content protected by it.
Coming soon.
Contact Information
For information on course content, contact Noel A. Card or Todd D. Little.
A full list of prices and fellowship opportunities for this course and all the courses offered at this year's Summer Institutes in Statistics can be found on the Fees and Registration Page.