Master Structural Equation Modeling: A Guide for Psychology Students

Question 1

What is the purpose of the error term in a path analysis model?

Accepted Answer

To represent the unexplained variance in the dependent variable

Answer

To adjust for the effects of unobserved variables

Answer

To indicate the reliability of the observed variables

Answer

To test the significance of the relationships between variables

Question 2

In path analysis, which type of coefficient represents the direct effect of one variable on another?

Accepted Answer

Path coefficient

Answer

Standardized coefficient

Answer

Unstandardized coefficient

Answer

Regression coefficient

Question 3

How do measurement models and structural models differ in SEM?

Accepted Answer

Measurement models test the relationships between observed variables, while structural models test the relationships between latent variables

Answer

Structural models test the relationships between observed variables, while measurement models test the relationships between latent variables

Answer

Both models test the relationships between observed variables

Answer

Both models test the relationships between latent variables

Question 4

What is the main purpose of a modification index in SEM?

Accepted Answer

To suggest potential modifications to the model that could improve the fit

Answer

To indicate the significance of each parameter in the model

Answer

To estimate the amount of variance explained by the model

Answer

To test the null hypothesis that the model is correct

Question 5

Structural equation modeling is a statistical technique primarily used to:

Accepted Answer

Identify relationships between variables that are directly observable and variables that are not directly observable

Answer

Test assumptions about the casual relationships among a set of variables

Answer

Predict the value of a specific variable based on the values of one or more other variables

Answer

Describe the frequency distribution of a single, observed variable

Question 6

The primary purpose of using a goodness-of-fit index in structural equation modeling is to:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate how well the model explains the observed data

Answer

Determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the model and an alternative model.

Answer

Identify the variables that contribute most to the relationships in the model.

Answer

Predict future values of the variables included in the model.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a type of structural equation model?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression model

Answer

Factor analysis model

Answer

Path analysis model

Answer

Confirmatory factor analysis model

Question 8

Purpose of Path Analysis:
What is the primary objective of path analysis in SEM?

Accepted Answer

Estimating direct and indirect effects between variables.

Answer

Identifying latent factors underlying observed variables.

Answer

Testing the validity of measurement models.

Answer

Predicting the value of one variable based on others.

Question 9

Concept of Latent Variables:
What is the defining characteristic of a latent variable?

Accepted Answer

Unobservability

Answer

Measurement by multiple indicators

Answer

Predictive nature

Answer

Control in experiments

Question 10

Measure of Reliability in Measurement Models:
Which of the following serves as a measure of reliability in SEM measurement models?

Accepted Answer

All of the above options are measures of reliability.

Answer

Cronbach's alpha

Answer

Composite reliability

Answer

Omega coefficient

Question 11

Types of Structural Equation Models:
Which of the following is a recognized type of structural equation model?

Accepted Answer

All of the above options are types of SEM.

Answer

Path analysis

Answer

Confirmatory factor analysis

Answer

Mediation analysis

Question 12

First Step in Structural Equation Modeling Analysis:
What is the initial step in conducting a structural equation modeling analysis?

Accepted Answer

Model specification

Answer

Data collection

Answer

Model fitting

Answer

Model testing

Question 13

Which of the following is a key advantage of using structural equation modeling (SEM)?

Accepted Answer

SEM allows researchers to test multiple hypotheses at once.

Answer

SEM can only be used to study relationships between two variables.

Answer

SEM results are not affected by the sample size.

Answer

SEM can only be used with data collected at a single time point.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT an assumption of confirmatory factor analysis?

Accepted Answer

Equal variances and covariances across groups

Answer

Multivariate normality

Answer

Linear relationships between variables

Answer

Independent observations

Question 15

The purpose of a goodness-of-fit index in structural equation modeling is to:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate the overall fit of the model to the data

Answer

Identify specific misspecifications in the model

Answer

Provide a direct test of the research hypotheses

Answer

Compare different models to each other

Question 16

The purpose of using a Lagrange Multiplier test in structural equation modeling is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify specific misspecifications in the model

Answer

Test the significance of a single path coefficient

Answer

Test the overall fit of the model

Answer

Compare different models to each other

Question 17

In a path model, what does a direct effect represent?

Accepted Answer

The effect of one variable on another while controlling for other variables

Answer

The total effect of one variable on another

Answer

The indirect effect through a third variable

Answer

The correlation between two variables

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a measure of goodness-of-fit for SEM?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's Alpha

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA)

Answer

Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI)

Question 19

What is the purpose of a model modification index in SEM?

Accepted Answer

To identify potential modifications that may improve model fit

Answer

To calculate the significance of individual parameters

Answer

To estimate the reliability of the model

Answer

To determine the number of latent variables in the model

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a latent variable in SEM?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence

Answer

Age

Answer

Gender

Answer

Income

Question 21

What is the purpose of power analysis in SEM?

Accepted Answer

To determine the minimum sample size required to achieve statistical significance

Answer

To estimate the effect size of a particular hypothesis

Answer

To compare the fit of different models

Answer

To identify potential problems with a model

Question 22

Power analysis is an essential step in structural equation modeling (SEM) studies. What is the primary purpose of conducting power analysis before conducting an SEM study?

Accepted Answer

To determine the minimum sample size needed to detect statistically significant effects

Answer

To estimate the effect size of the model

Answer

To evaluate the fit of the model

Question 23

Which of the following is a key characteristic of overfitting in structural equation modeling?

Accepted Answer

Models that fit the data perfectly but don't generalize well to new data

Answer

Models that are too simple and don't capture the complexity of the data

Answer

Models that are based on a small sample size and are therefore unreliable

Question 24

In the context of a path analysis model, a variable that influences another variable but is not itself directly influenced by any other variable within the model is referred to as a:

Accepted Answer

Exogenous variable

Answer

Mediator variable

Answer

Endogenous variable

Answer

Moderator variable

Question 25

In a CFA model, the discrepancy between the observed covariance matrix and the covariance matrix predicted by the model is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Residual matrix

Answer

Goodness-of-fit index

Answer

Parameter matrix

Answer

Latent variable matrix

Question 26

What is the key difference between a saturated and an unsaturated CFA model?

Accepted Answer

A saturated model has no degrees of freedom, unlike an unsaturated model.

Answer

An unsaturated model is more prone to misspecification than a saturated model.

Answer

A saturated model is more complex in structure compared to an unsaturated model.

Answer

An unsaturated model typically exhibits a better fit compared to a saturated model.

Question 27

In a CFA model, the covariance between two latent variables is represented by a:

Accepted Answer

Correlation parameter

Answer

Regression weight

Answer

Error variance

Question 28

Which of the following is a common application of structural equation modeling in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Testing hypotheses about causal relationships among variables

Answer

Predicting individual behavior based on observed characteristics.

Answer

Categorizing individuals into distinct groups based on their responses.

Question 29

Which of the following is a primary advantage of using SEM over traditional statistical methods?

Accepted Answer

It can test complex relationships and theories involving multiple variables and their interactions simultaneously.

Answer

It provides more accurate and reliable results regardless of the complexity of the model.

Answer

It is more efficient for analyzing even small datasets.

Question 30

What is the primary purpose of a path diagram in SEM?

Accepted Answer

To visually represent the hypothesized relationships between the variables in the model.

Answer

To determine the goodness-of-fit of the model.

Answer

To calculate the regression coefficients and model parameters.

Question 31

Which of the following fit indices is used to assess the overall goodness-of-fit of a SEM model and its parsimony?

Accepted Answer

Akaike information criterion (AIC)

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)

Answer

Cronbach's alpha

Question 32

What is the key difference between path analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)?

Accepted Answer

Path analysis explores relationships between observed variables, while CFA tests hypotheses about the structure of latent variables that are inferred from observed variables.

Answer

Path analysis is more complex than CFA.

Question 33

Which of the following is a potential limitation of SEM?

Accepted Answer

The requirement for a relatively large sample size to ensure sufficient power and accurate parameter estimation.

Answer

The interpretation of results can be straightforward, even for complex models.

Answer

It is not suitable for analyzing data with missing values.

Answer

It is computationally very simple and does not require specialized software.

Question 34

What is the primary function of latent variables in SEM?

Accepted Answer

To represent underlying constructs or factors that cannot be directly observed or measured.

Answer

To improve the statistical power of the model.

Answer

To simplify the model structure by reducing the number of observed variables.

Question 35

What is the key difference between a saturated and an unsaturated SEM model?

Accepted Answer

A saturated model has exactly as many parameters as degrees of freedom, while an unsaturated model has fewer parameters than degrees of freedom.

Answer

A saturated model is always a better-fitting model than an unsaturated model.

Question 36

Which of the following is a recommended best practice when conducting SEM analysis?

Accepted Answer

Use a sample size that is large enough to provide adequate statistical power for the hypothesized model.

Answer

Ignore the assumptions of SEM and proceed with the analysis regardless.

Answer

Use the most complex model possible with as many variables and parameters as feasible.