Course Information
This course is an introduction to linear structural equation modeling and its application to social and behavioral research. This course will cover various data analytic techniques ranging from simple regression, matrix algebra, and confirmatory factor analysis to measurement invariance, longitudinal growth models, and handling categorical outcomes. Within each technique we will examine algebraic and graphic model specification, estimation procedures, identification, goodness of fit criteria, and alternative model comparison approaches. The goals of this course are to develop an understanding of the conceptual and mathematical bases of structural equation modeling, to learn how to specify and estimate models using statistical software, and evaluate them in relation to alternative models using statistical and practical criteria.
