An 8-Module Online, Interactive Workshop

Starts on Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Even though it’s a relative newcomer to the field of statistics, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has gained rapid popularity as a powerful statistical tool.

This flexible analysis framework allows researchers to examine the set of relationships between one or more independent variables and one or more dependent variables, and, to analyze the structural relationship between measured variables and latent constructs.

Particularly useful in the behavioral, health, social and educational sciences, SEM is a powerful technique that enables you to specify confirmatory factor analysis models, regression models, mediation models, and complex path models, and answer questions that involve multiple regression analyses of latent constructs, such as:

• Factors that influence college academic achievement
• Relationship between employment during high school and student achievement
• Factors of how teachers affect students’ science and math achievements
• Temperament as a moderator of the effects of parenting on children’s behavior
• Understanding pathways that connect socioeconomic status and smoking
• Validity of the emotional intelligence scale for use in sports
• Causes and effects of teacher conflict-inducing attitudes towards pupils
• Relationship between preschool attention span-persistence and age 25 educational outcomes

But with great power comes great complexity.

SEM involves many layers, many complex concepts, and a lot of unique vocabulary, notation, and procedures, which can be confusing to a lot of people. As a result, it’s difficult to learn independently. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the intricacies of solving multiple equations simultaneously, as well as the various decisions that you must make (Which model to specify? Which cause-and-effect relationships exist? What are the various relationships between variables?).

Having an experienced teacher guide you to understanding of SEM can make all the difference!

In this eight-module live, online workshop, we’ll cover:

• Laying the Foundation: Key Terms; Notation; Variance, Covariance, and Correlation
• Building the Ground Floor: Normality; the Variance/Covariance Matrix; Parameter Estimates; Assumptions
• Invariance/Non-Invariance by Group or Time
• Path analysis
• Mediation, moderation and mediated moderation
• And more…

Who Is This Workshop For?

This Stage 4 workshop is suitable for graduate students and research professionals. It is not a mathematical workshop designed for statisticians. That said, you need experience and knowledge in statistical fundamentals and linear regression models.

This workshop is for you if you:

• Have a strong background in linear regression models and are ready to take your skills to the next level
• Want to learn how to develop a measurement model and utilize the measurement model within a structural model
• Have tried to learn SEM on your own and find yourself struggling with good practice
• Are confused by terminology and output discussed in published research
• Need to learn how to use mediators and moderators within a structural model
• Need to learn bootstrapping and Monte Carlo simulation

It is NOT for you if you:

• Do not have solid knowledge and background of statistical concepts through linear regression
• Do not have a strong background in linear regression and do not know what is a latent construct (factor)
• Never use latent constructs in your modeling
• Are looking for a math-heavy derivation of SEM theory

“Overall, I am enjoying the workshop… I appreciate Jeff’s starting at the beginning with the basics. I also like that all the files with the code are provided with the homework. I am new to Stata and would never be able to figure it out without these files. The homework answers are key to my learning as well.”

— Julie Staples, SEM pilot class participant —

How Does It Work?

This course is an 8-module online workshop.

All lessons and software demonstrations are pre-recorded. Each week, starting on Wednesday morning, we’ll make each module’s materials available. At your convenience, watch the video lessons, watch the video software demonstrations, do the exercises, and review the software syntax of your choice to implement the examples in the lessons.

Have questions? No problem!

On the following Tuesday, you’ll meet with your instructor for a live webinar-based Q&A session where you can get assistance with workshop concepts, deepen your knowledge, and clarify any questions.

All 8 Q&A Sessions Are Recorded for Your Convenience.

Where Do I Access Recordings and Material?

For each of the eight modules, you will have a set of training resources and material.

As a participant of the Structural Equation Modeling workshop, you can access these for 12 months in our participant-only website.

You’ll have access to this site and all the related materials and resources for ONE FULL YEAR. That means you can re-watch sessions and ask additional questions again during that 12-month period.

Often, our students report they understand the material at a deeper level on a second or third pass. You’ll learn more every time, so take advantage of it!

“Jeff is very patient and he’s a good teacher- he asks questions and waits for us to respond before moving forward. His tone is non-judgmental, and he explains material well.”

— Heidi, previous workshop participant —

What’s Covered in the Workshop?

Module 1: Laying the Foundation

• Understand the key terms used in structural equation modeling
• Become acquainted with the notation
• Review variance, covariance and correlation
• Recognize under-identified vs just-identified vs over-identified models

Module 2: Building the Ground Floor

• Review the assumption of normalcy
• Understand how the variance/covariance matrix is incorporated in SEM
• Interpret parameter estimates
• Recognize differences between standardized and non-standardized output
• Understand goodness of fit statistics for SEM
• Cover SEM assumptions

Module 3: Measurement Model: Single construct

• Evaluate single construct model
• Identify of ill-fitting CFA models
• Improve ill-fitting CFA models
• Compare and choose best fit model
• Understand how reverse coding affects model
• Calculate a construct’s reliability index

Module 4: Measurement Model: Two or more constructs

• Understand discriminant and convergent validity
• Interpret residuals
• Understand and implement the process of building a multiple construct model
• Recognize causes and reasons for poor fitting models

Module 5: Tau Equivalency, Group Invariance

• Important terminology
• Tau equivalent constructs
• Invariance, non-invariance by group (male, female)
• Invariance, non-invariance by time (pre, post)

Module 6: Longitudinal Invariance, Structural Modeling

• SEM with covariates
• Constructs as predictors/outcomes
• Path Analysis
• Mediation

Module 7: Structural Modeling (con’t)

• Moderation
• Mediation
• Moderated mediation

Module 8: Monte Carlo Simulation, Putting It All Together

• Recap from Start to Finish

Dates and Times

There are eight workshop modules. Each one begins when we release the module’s materials on Wednesday morning and concludes with a live Q&A session.

Workshop Orientation (Optional):

Tuesday, October 12, 2022 from 3pm – 3:45pm (EDT)

Q&A Session Dates: Tuesdays, 3pm – 4pm (EDT)

Module 1 – October 19

Module 2 – October 26

Module 3 – November 2

Module 4 – November 9

Module 5 – November 16

Break Week

Module 6 – November 30

Module 7 – December 7

Module 8 – December 14

Remember, everything is recorded and available for you to watch at your convenience, should you be unable to attend a live session.

Also, you have access to all the workshop materials for a full 12 months from your enrollment date.

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Sorry, enrollment for this workshop is not currently open.

Please contact us if you have any questions
or get on the waiting list to be notified when it's open again.

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“Jeff Meyer was fantastic! Very clear instructions and helpful to those that asked questions. Very thorough and detailed, I enjoyed it!”

— Beheshta, previous workshop participant —

Prerequisites

So what kind of background in statistics do you need?

We’re assuming you have a solid understanding of and experience with:

• Multiple linear regression, especially fitting models, interpreting coefficients, and checking assumptions
• The difference between causal, predictive, and explanatory effects and how study design affects the conclusions you can draw
• Model fit statistics, hypothesis testing, variance, covariance, and correlation
• Have at least a cursory understanding of factor analysis

If you have questions about whether you’re ready for this class, just email us. We’ll give you our honest opinion. We want you to succeed!

Your Satisfaction Is Guaranteed

As with all of our programs, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Your registration fee is fully refundable for any reason up to the close of enrollment, no questions asked. Once the refund period ends and the workshop begins, we want you to be satisfied. If you participate fully in a workshop – watch, read, and try out what is included – and find you are not satisfied, we will give you a full refund. Just notify us within 90 days of purchasing the program.

FAQs

Q: I haven’t taken a statistics course in years. Will I be able to keep up?

A: As long as you have the suggested prerequisites (a strong understanding of linear regression), you should be fine.

However, you WILL need to spend some time each week, both going over the material and also “getting your hands dirty” with some data. Expect to spend 4-5 hours per week reviewing the material and doing the exercises, and re-running class examples on your own.

And if you have questions during the workshop, make sure to attend the Q&A sessions and/or post on the Workshop Center to clarify anything you’re not clear on.

You know how this goes: The more time you put in, the deeper your understanding.

Q: What’s your refund policy?

A: Your registration fee is fully refundable for any reason up to the close of enrollment. If you participate fully in the workshop – watch, read, and try out what is included – and find you are not satisfied, we will give you a full refund within 90 days of purchase.

Q: Do you offer student discounts?

A: Yes, we do! Current students with a valid ID can register for up to 30% off the standard rate. Click here to receive our student discount on all our workshops: Student Discount List

Q: Things are very busy at work right now, and I’m afraid I won’t have time to keep up. How much time per week does this really take?

A: We’ve worked hard to make sure people can take a workshop in the midst of their normal work life. For longer workshops, we build in a week off halfway through the course.

Each workshop lesson session is about 2 hours.

Each week, we have a one-hour Q&A session. You don’t have to attend, we just make those available so you can have any questions answered or listen in on others’ questions.

We provide exercises, answers and data sets, so you can practice what you’ve learned each week and get help in the Q&As. These will take you a few hours each week, maybe up to 3 or so. The exercises aren’t required—you’re not graded. But we’ve gotten feedback that they’re very helpful, as it allows you to practice and figure out what you did and didn’t understand.

In other words, each week, there are approximately 2 hours of instruction, one hour of Q&A, and about 2-3 hours of practice time. So if you have a crazy hectic week during the workshop, you have catch up time. But If you have a crazy hectic month, you may be better off waiting as you won’t really have a chance to catch up.

One reminder: You have access to the workshop website, all materials, and a place to ask questions for a year. So if you get behind, you aren’t missing out. You can catch up on your schedule.

Q: I teach/work/sleep during this time and cannot attend live Q&As. Is there any way to register and access the webinar sessions later?

A: Yes! We have participants from many time zones with many different work schedules. In order to support our diverse student base, all material – including the workshop sessions and Q&As — are recorded and made available to students within 48 hours. They’re screenshot video files, so you’ll hear the instructor talking and see his screen, just as live participants do. You can even submit questions for written answers any time between sessions. Many students take the entire workshop in this manner, never attending a session live.

Q: I’m outside the U.S. Can I still participate?

A: Yes. We have participants in our workshops from many different countries. You will want a fast internet connection and either a computer speaker or a telephone if you plan to attend live.

Q: Can I pay with Paypal?

A: Yes. When you check out, you can pay directly using our system or paying with Paypal. However, the three-payment option is not available using PayPal.

Q: Can I join the Q&A webinars from my tablet or phone?

A: Yes. You can join all webinar sessions from your Apple or Android device by downloading a free GoToMeeting app.

Q: This really isn’t a good time for me. Will you be offering this workshop again soon?

A: We don’t have a set schedule for running each workshop. We try to schedule each workshop every 12-18 months, though very popular workshops may be offered more often. We are sometimes unable to re-run a workshop if the instructor becomes unavailable so there are no guarantees that any workshop will be run again.

If you think you’ll need the material in the next half-year or so, register now. You’ll get all the materials to download and review at your convenience, and you can attend again for free any time in the next 12 months.

Have additional questions? We’re here to help! Just email us at support@theanalysisfactor.com.