A guide to multiple-sample structural equation modeling

Abstract

The application of structural equation modeling to the investigation of social phenomena has increased in recent years. Whereas description and application of the LISREL methodology to the single-sample situation abound, such is not the case for the multiple-sample situation (i.e., simultaneous analysis of independent samples). The multiple-sample case has many possible applications in psychology (e.g., the analysis of experimental, nonezperimental, cross-sectional, and longitudinal data). The guide features descriptions of (1) the simple multiple-sample case, in which equality constraints may be imposed on the covariance structure of the measurement and/or structural equation models across samples, (2) the structured-means multiple-sample case, in which constraints may be additionally imposed on the mean structure of these models across samples, and thereby allow an assessment of group differences, and (3) a sequential strategy for dealing with the multiple-group situation, illustrated through a model of public and private schooling. © 1983 Psychonomic Society, Inc.