ON USING AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA & SEPATH FOR STRUCTURAL EQUATION ...

303 Pages·2001·1.49 MB·English

ON USING AMOS, EQS, LISREL,
Mx, RAMONA & SEPATH

FOR

STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

by

Sylvester Peprah
ON USING AMOS, EQS, LISREL,
Mx, RAMONA AND SEPATH

FOR

STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

by

SYLVESTER PEPRAH

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Magister Scientiae
in the Faculty of Science
at the University of Port Elizabeth.

March 2000

Supervisor: Gerhard Mels

University of Port Elizabeth
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks goes to my supervisor Gerhard Mels of the University of Port Elizabeth1 for his
ideas for this treatise, his constructive criticisms and guidance throughout this project. His advice
and guidance throughout my studies here at University of Port Elizabeth are very much appreciated.

I sincerely thank Prof. I.N. Litvine, the head of department of the Department of Mathematical
Statistic of the University of Port Elizabeth, for allowing me to use the departmental facilities. The
encouragement and guidance he gave to me throughout my studies are very much appreciated. I
would also like to thank the rest of the staff of the department for their support.

I thank the following people for their help in one way or the other towards this project: Kwaku
Mensah, Hon. Kwadwo Boateng, Kofi Siaw, Thomas Allotey Bray, Elder Alfred “Bob” Blain, Clare
Blain, Elder Rueben Maggerman, N.D. Naidoo, Dr. R. Banful, Kwame Andoh, Thokozani Simelani,
C.N. Namponya and Zola Bob.

I would like to thank the following friends whose contributions to my studies can not be measured
by mere words: Akonta Samuel Oduro, Akonta Thomas Gyedu-Ababio, Akonta Addo-Bediako and
Dr. Ubomba-Jaswa. May the Lord Almighty richly bless you all. I would like to give special thanks
to my mother, Abena Manu Febiri, brothers, Gilbert Yaw Agyenim-Boateng, Michael Baah,
Kwabena Kyeremeh and Kwadwo Asamoah and our sister, Agather, for their moral support,
understanding and prayers.

I would like to thank my wife, Florence Adwoa Boateng, my sons: Oscar, Kofi Kusi and Kofi
Asante for sacrificing a family fortune to enable me undertake my postgraduate studies. My absence
from home most of the time was very painful but you endured it. Words cannot express how grateful
I am. Finally, I would like to thank my Creator who made all things possible through His Son Jesus
Christ. Thank you Father for the good health I have enjoyed throughout my studies and all that you
have done and continue doing in my life.

1 Gerhard is currently a senior programmer at Scientific Software International.
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DEDICATION

I dedicate this work to the memories of:

My late father, Mark Kofi Asante

My late brother and friend, Kwabena Amponsah Moses

and

My late friend, Edmund Ofori Ayeh.

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CONTENTS

Page
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 INTRODUCTORY BACKGROUND 1
1.2 A MODEL FOR PEER INFLUENCES ON AMBITION 5
1.3 MOTIVATION 9
1.4 SUMMARY OF CONTENTS 11

CHAPTER 2
AMOS 13
2.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 13
2.2 THE AMOS INPUT SYSTEM 14
2.2.1 MODEL INFORMATION 15
2.2.2 MODEL SPECIFICATION 16
2.2.3 ESTIMATION METHOD(S) 18
2.2.4 DATA 19
2.2.5 GROUP NAME 19
2.2.6 OUTPUT 19
2.2.7 INPUT FILE: EXAMPLE 2 19
2.3 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
THE DUNCAN, HALLER AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 22
2.3.1 CREATING THE AMOS DATA FILE FOR THE DUNCAN, HALLER
AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 22

2.3.2 CREATING AMOS GRAPHIC FILE FOR THE MODEL OF THE
DUNCAN, HALLER AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 24
2.3.3 RUNNING AMOS 34
2.3.4 THE AMOS OUTPUT FILE 35

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CHAPTER 3
EQS 52
3.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 52
3.2 THE EQS INPUT FILE 52
3.2.1 MODEL AND DATA INFORMATION 53
3.2.2 MODEL SPECIFICATION WITH EQS 55
3.2.3 DATA 57
3.3 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
THE DUNCAN, HALLER, AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 59
3.3.1 CREATING THE EQS INPUT FILE 59
3.3.2 INPUT FILE: EXAMPLE 3 67
3.3.3 RUNNING EQS 69
3.3.4 THE EQS OUTPUT FILE 70

CHAPTER 4
LISREL 87
4.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 87
4.2 THE LISREL INPUT SYSTEM 89
4.2.1 THE LISREL INPUT FILE SYNTAX 91
4.3 TYPING A SIMPLIS FILE USING SIMPLIS COMMAND LANGUAGE 108
4.3.1 THE SYNTAX OF THE SIMPLIS FILE 110
4.3.2 SIMPLIS FILE FOR THE MODEL DEPICTED IN FIGURE 1.2 118
4.4 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 120
4.4.1 CREATING LISREL SYNTAX INTERACTIVELY FOR THE DUNCAN,
HALLER AND PORTES’ MODEL DEPICTED IN FIGURE 1.2 120
4.4.2 CREATING SIMPLIS SYNTAX FILES INTERACTIVELY 137
4.4.3 CREATING LISREL/SIMPLIS SYNTAX USING PATH DIAGRAM 139
4.4.4 DRAWING A PATH DIAGRAM INTERACTIVELY IN LISREL 8.30 FOR
WINDOWS FOR THE DUNCAN, HALLER AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 140
4.4.5 RUNNING LISREL 8.30 153
4.4.6 THE LISREL OUTPUT FILE 154
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CHAPTER 5
Mx 172
5.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 172
5.2 THE Mx INPUT SCRIPT FILE 173
5.2.1 PREPARING AN Mx INPUT SCRIPT FILE 174
5.2.2 AN Mx INPUT SCRIPT FOR THE MODEL DEPICTED IN FIGURE 1.2 187
5.3 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE: THE DUNCAN, HALLER AND PORTES’
APPLICATION 189
5.3.1 CREATING Mx INPUT SCRIPT FROM PATH DIAGRAM 189
5.3.2 RUNNING Mx 201
5.3.3 THE Mx OUTPUT FILE 202

CHAPTER 6
RAMONA 216
6.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 216
6.2 THE RAMONA INPUT FILE 216
6.2.1 MODEL INFORMATION 217
6.2.2 MODEL SPECIFICATION 219
6.2.3 DATA 221
6.3 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 222
6.3.1 VARIABLE NAMES 222
6.3.2 INPUT FILE 223
6.3.3 RUNNING RAMONA 224
6.3.4 THE RAMONA OUTPUT FILE 229

CHAPTER 7
SEPATH 243
7.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 243
7.2 THE SEPATH INPUT SYSTEM 243
7.2.1 THE SEPATH DATA FILE 243
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7.2.2 THE SEPATH MODEL FILE 244
7.3 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 246
7.3.1 CREATING THE SEPATH DATA FILE FOR THE DUNCAN, HALLER
AND PORTES’ APPLICATION 246
7.3.2 THE SEPATH MODEL FILE FOR THE DUNCAN, HALLER AND
PORTES’ APPLICATION 251
7.3.3 MODEL FILE 257
7.3.4 RUNNING SEPATH 258
7.3.5 THE SEPATH OUTPUT FILE 264

CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 274
8.1 INTRODUCTION 274
8.2 AMOS 274
8.3 EQS 276
8.4 LISREL 278
8.5 Mx 279
8.6 RAMONA 281
8.7 SEPATH 282
8.8 COMPARING PARAMETER ESTIMATES OBTAINED FROM AMOS, EQS,
LISREL, Mx, RAMONA AND SEPATH 283
8.9 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 287

REFERENCES
288

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SUMMARY

Structural Equation Modeling is a common name for the statistical analysis of Structural Equation
Models. Structural Equation Models are models that specify relationships between a set of variables
and can be specified by means of path diagrams. A number of Structural Equation Modeling
programs have been developed. These include, amongst others, AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx,
RAMONA and SEPATH. A number of studies have been published on the use of some of the
applications mentioned above. They include, amongst others, Brown (1986), Waller (1993) and
Kano (1997). Structural Equation Models are increasingly being used in the social, economic and
behavioral sciences. More and more people are therefore making use of one or more of the Structural
Equation Modeling applications on the market. This study is performed with the aim of using each
of the Structural Equation Modeling applications AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA and
SEPATH for the first time and document the experience, joy and the difficulties encountered while
using them. This treatise is different from the comparisons already published in that it is based on the
use of AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA and SEPATH to fit a Structural Equation Model for
peer influences on ambition, which is specified for data obtained by Duncan, Haller and Portes
(1971), by myself as a first time user of each of the programs mentioned. The impressive features as
well as the difficulties encountered are listed for each application. Recommendations for possible
improvements to the various applications are also proposed. Finally, recommendations for future
studies on the use of Structural Equation Modeling programs are made.
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OPSOMMING

Strukturele Vergelykingsmodellering is 'n algemene term vir die statistiese ontleding van
Strukturele Vergelykingsmodelle. Hierdie modelle spesifiseer verwantskappe tussen 'n stel
veranderlikes en kan deur middel van pyldiagramme voorgestel word. Verskeie programme
vir Strukturele Vergelykingsmodellering is ontwikkel. Hierdie programme sluit, onder andere,
AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA en SEPATH in. Verskeie artikels oor die gebruik van
hierdie programme is reeds gepubliseer (Brown 1986, Waller l993, Kano 1997). Strukturele
Vergelykingsmodelle word toenemend in die sosiale, ekonomiese en gedragswetenskappe
gebruik. Gevolglik word ‘n positiewe toename in die gebruik van een of meer programme vir
Strukturele Vergelykingsmodellering in die praktyk ondervind. Hierdie studie is gemik op die
aanvanklike gebruik van sekere programme vir Strukturele Vergelykingsmodellering, naamlik
AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA en SEPATH. Dit dokumenteer die suksesse en
probleme wat ondervind word met die gebruik daarvan deur ‘n nuwe gebruiker. Hierdie
verhandeling verskil ten opsigte van die vergelykings, wat alreeds gepubliseer is,
aangesien dit gebaseer is op die gebruik van AMOS, EQS, LISREL, Mx, RAMONA en
SEPATH deur ‘n nuwe gebruiker. Ek, as ‘n nuwe gebruiker, pas ‘n Strukturele
Vergelykingsmodel vir portuur-invloede op ambisie op data, wat deur van Duncan, Haller en
Portes (1971) versamel is, met behulp van elk van die ses programme. My persoonlike
indrukwekkende eienskappe, sowel as die probleme wat ek ondervind het, word vir elke
program verskaf. Voorstelle vir moontlike verbeterings vir die verskillende programme word
gemaak. Ten slotte, word aanbevelings vir toekomstige studies oor die gebruik van die
programme vir Strukturele Vergelykingsmodellering ook voorgestel.
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