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The Robustness of Estimates of Total Indirect Effects in Covariance Structure Models Estimated by Maximum Likelihood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Clement A. Stone  and
Michael E. Sobel
Clement A. Stone*
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Michael E. Sobel
Affiliation:
University of Arizona
*
Requests for reprints should be sent to Clement A. Stone, Old Engineering Hall (Room 110), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260.
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Abstract

The large sample distribution of total indirect effects in covariance structure models in well known. Using Monte Carlo methods, this study examines the applicability of the large sample theory to maximum likelihood estimates oftotal indirect effects in sample sizes of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800. Two models are studied. Model 1 is a recursive model with observable variables and Model 2 is a nonrecursive model with latent variables. For the large sample theory to apply, the results suggest that sample sizes of 200 or more and 400 or more are required for models such as Model 1 and Model 2, respectively.

Keywords

indirect effectscovariance structure analysisMonte Carol methodsdelta method
Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , June 1990 , pp. 337 - 352
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

For helpful comments on a previous draft of this paper, we are grateful to Gerhard Arminger, Clifford C. Clogg, and several anonymous reviewers.

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