Indirect Effects in Path Analysis

TL;DR: In this article, a general method for decomposing effects into their components by the systematic application of ordinary least squares regression is described, which involves successive computation of reduced-form equations, beginning with an equation containing only exogenous variables, and adding intervening variables in sequence from cause to effect.

TL;DR: For comments on an earlier draft of this chapter and for detailed advice I am indebted to Robert M. Hauser, Halliman H. Winsborough, Toni Richards, several anonymous reviewers, and the editor of this volume.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present two approaches to define total effects in structural equation models with latent and observed variables, one based on sums of powers of coefficient matrices and the other defined total effects as reduced-form coefficients.

TL;DR: The mediation myth is the false belief that mediation is actually estimated in the typical mediation analysis as mentioned in this paper, which is based on a trifecta of shortcomings: (1) typical mediation study reli...

TL;DR: Path analysis focuses on the problem of interpretation and does not purpot to be a method for discovering causes as mentioned in this paper, but it may, nevertheless, be invaluable in rendering interpretations explicit, self-consistent, and susceptible to rejection by subsequent research.

TL;DR: The causal model as mentioned in this paper is a procedure for bridging the gap between sociological theory on the one hand and the results of classical statistical analysis on the other, and it can be seen as a way of constructing an oversimplified model of reality.

TL;DR: This paper was prepared while the author was a staff member in the Methodology in Sociology training program at the University of Wisconsin, a project funded by the Institute of General Medical Sciences, N.I.H.

TL;DR: The influence of socioeconomic origins on three outcomes of secondary schooling (academic achievement, course marks, and aspirations) is interpreted using path analysis and covariance analysis for six grade-cohorts of students in the Nashville Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) as discussed by the authors.