Structural equation models (SEM) are commonly used to analyze
the relationship between variables some of which may be latent,
such as individual ``attitude'' to and ``behavior'' concerning
specific issues. A number of difficulties arise when we want
to compare a large number of groups, each with large sample
size, and the manifest variables are distinctly non-normally
distributed. Using an specific data set, we evaluate the
appropriateness of the following alternative SEM approaches:
multiple ...
Structural equation models (SEM) are commonly used to analyze
the relationship between variables some of which may be latent,
such as individual ``attitude'' to and ``behavior'' concerning
specific issues. A number of difficulties arise when we want
to compare a large number of groups, each with large sample
size, and the manifest variables are distinctly non-normally
distributed. Using an specific data set, we evaluate the
appropriateness of the following alternative SEM approaches:
multiple group versus MIMIC models, continuous versus ordinal
variables estimation methods, and normal theory versus non-normal
estimation methods. The approaches are applied to the ISSP-1993
Environmental data set, with the purpose of exploring variation
in the mean level of variables of ``attitude'' to and ``behavior''
concerning environmental issues and their mutual relationship across
countries. Issues of both theoretical and practical relevance arise
in the course of this application.
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