ESTIMATION METHODS FOR THE STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELS: MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD, PARTIAL LEAST SQUARES E GENERALIZED MAXIMUM ENTROPY
Journal Title: Journal of Applied Quantitative Methods - Year 2012, Vol 7, Issue 2
Abstract
The concept of Latent Variables (LVs or latent constructs) is, probably, one of the most charming and discussed of the last fifty years, although, even today, it is only possible to give a negative definition of it: what is not observable, lacking both of origin and of measurement unit. One of the difficulties for a researcher in the economic-social sciences in the specification of a statistical model describing the casual-effect relationships between the variables derives from the fact that the variables which are object of the analysis are not directly observable (i.e. latent), for example, the performance, the customer satisfaction, the social status etc. Although such latent variables cannot be directly observable, the use of proper indicators (i.e. manifest variables, MVs) can make the measurement of such constructs easy. Thanks to the SEM, it is possible to analyze simultaneously, both the relations of dependence between the LVs (i.e, Structural Model), and the links between the LVs and their indicators, that is, between the corresponding observed variables (i.e, Measurement Model). The different and proper methodologies of estimate of the dependence are topics of this work. In particular, the aim of this work is to analyze Structural Equation Models (SEM) and, in particular, some of the different estimation methods mostly adopted: the Maximum Likelihood-ML, the Partial Least Squares- PLS and the Generalized Maximum Entropy - GME, by illustrating their main differences and similarities.
Authors and Affiliations
Anna CRISCI
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP131052
- DOI -
- Views 109
- Downloads 0
Mathematical Model for Optimizing the Profit of the Pork Meat Chain
The research of the present study answer the question whether using measures for reducing the losses on the pork meat chain enables acquiring a higher level of effectiveness. In pursuing this question, a mathematical mod...
CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT COMPUTER NETWORKS SECURITY UNDER VARIOUS OPERATING SYSTEMS
Importance of security issues in computer networks has increased with the expansion of electronic data processing and transmission via the network. When operating on confidential information, it is important that the ben...
Testing: First Step Towards Software Quality
This article’s purpose is to present the benefits of a mature approach to testing and quality activities in an engineering organization, make a case for more education with respect to software quality and testing, and pr...
Validity Examination of EFQM’s Results by Dea Models
The European Foundation Quality Management is one of the models dealing with the assessment of an organization’s function using a self-assessment for measuring the concepts, some of which are more and more qualitative. C...
Validity, Reliability and Difficulty Indices for Instructor-Built Exam Questions
The purpose of the research is to determine college Instructor’s skill rate in designing exam questions in chemistry subject. The statistical population was all of chemistry exam scripts for two semesters in one academic...