MUED 6440 Ch. 8

Question 1

Statistical technique that, using regression analysis, examines patterns of intercorrelations among variables in order to determine if they fit the researcher’s underlying theory of which variables are causing which other variables

Answer 1

Causal modeling

Question 2

Arrows in a path analysis diagram; often labeled with the associated path coefficients

Answer 2

Causal paths

Question 3

The residual term in causal modeling

Answer 3

Disturbance term

Question 4

The variable being explained by a causal model; that is, having its variance explained by other variables included in the model; also referred to as the dependent variable

Answer 4

Endogenous variable

Question 5

A variable not being explained by a causal model, whose variance is accounted for by other variables outside the model; also referred to as the independent variable

Answer 5

Exogenous variable

Question 6

An effect that occurs when a variable affects an endogenous variable through its effect on some other variable

Answer 6

Indirect effect

Question 7

A variable that affects the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable

Answer 7

Intervening variable

Question 8

A variable that is not directly observed but is rather inferred through a mathematical model from other variables that are observed

Answer 8

Latent variable

Question 9

A method of analyzing correlations among a set of variables in order to examine the pattern of causal relationships; usually depicted with a path diagram including arrows showing the direction of causation among variables

Answer 9

Path analysis

Question 10

The standardized regression coefficients associated with causal paths in a causal model; also called structural coefficients

Answer 10

Path coefficients

Question 11

Process that results in the reproduced correlations in a path analysis; the reproduced correlations are equal to the produce of all coefficients in a given path; also called path tracing

Answer 11

Path decomposition

Question 12

A pictorial representation of a causal model, showing the direction of causation and associated path coefficients

Answer 12

Path diagram

Question 13

Process that results in the reproduced correlations in a path analysis; the reproduced correlations are equal to the produce of all coefficients in a given path; also called path decomposition

Answer 13

Path tracing

Question 14

The correlation matrix produced from the factor solution or from the theoretical model in path analysis

Answer 14

Reproduced correlations matrix

Question 15

Causal effect between two variables that is largely due to a common third variable

Answer 15

Spurious effects

Question 16

The standardized regression coefficients associated with causal paths in a causal model; also called path coefficients

Answer 16

Structural coefficients

Question 17

An assumed causal model, when stated as an equation; typically stated in its standardized form

Answer 17

Structural equation

Question 18

Sophisticated version of path analysis incorporating unobservable, unmeasurable (latent) variables into the path model

Answer 18

Structural equation modeling