Course Syllabus

Required Text & Readings

• Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural Equations with Latent Variables. New York: Wiley.
• Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Chapter 13: Principal Components and Factor Analysis. In Using Multivariate Statistics, 3rd Ed., pp. 635-707. New York: Harper-Collins.

Optional Texts

• Bollen, K. A., & Long, J. S., Eds. (1993). Testing Structural Equation Models.Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
• Joreskog, K., & Sorbom, D. (1996). LISREL 8: User's Reference Guide. Chicago, IL: Scientific Software.
• Byrne, B. M. (1994). Sturctural Equation Modeling with EQS and EQS/Windows: Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Arbuckle, J. L. (1999). AMOS 4.0 Users' Guide. Chicago, IL: Small Waters.

Approximate Course Schedule

Policies and Procedures

Course Components

Homework --- 20%

Students are expected to complete weekly homework assignments. The assignments are to be word processed when appropriate. Some assignments, however, would be difficult to word process and may be hand written (such as matrix algebra). Each student may turn in any one assignment one week late without asking for permission beforehand. Word processed assignments should be spell checked and proof read for grammar; hand written assignments should neat, clear, and very legible.

Course Project --- 20%

Each student will complete a course project, typically involving the analysis of a data set using one of the techniques studied during the course. Students should start looking for a good data set immediately. If you do not have a suitable data set already, you may want to talk with your advisor, other faculty, or the instructor. One could also tackle a project geared to address a more methodological issue. The course project does not need to be a small dissertation; extensive literature reviews are not necessary. Students are expected to discuss their projects with the instructor frequently.

Presentations --- 20%

Students are expected to make several presentations during the course of the semester.

• Each student will be assigned a fit statistic to present in class (roughly 10 minute presentation).
• Students will also select an article from the literature in their field that uses covariance structure modeling techniques (including path analysis or confirmatory factor analysis). A copy of the article needs to be turned in during the second week of class so that they may be placed on reserve. The students will then present their article in class later.

  Additionally, students may be called upon to discuss various aspects of the paper he or she has selected in the course of class discussions.

Class Participation --- 20%

As a seminar class, students are expected to participate very actively each day. This participation can take the form of making comments, asking questions, or responding to another students' question or comment.

Students are expected to attend every class session, although it is to be expected that conferences and other professional activities often take us away from the classroom. Students do not need to ask for permission to be absent from class when they are not scheduled to present, but excessive absences will have a negative effect on the class participation grade.

Students are also expected to read the appropriate chapters in the text, as well as the journal articles supplied by all students (to be placed on reserve later in the semester) so as to be prepared to discuss the material and participate fully in the seminar. Especially with the textbook, students do not need to read every word laboriously and repeatedly until every concept is crystal clear. If we could do that, none of us would need this class. You should read the chapters closely enough, however, to formulate coherent questions or at least to know where you "lost it."

Final Oral Exam --- 20%

Students will make a brief (5-10 minute) presentation about their course project and answer questions from the instructor and other students as an oral final exam.

Grading Policies

Final grades will be assigned using the "camel" distribution. Graduate courses typically exhibit a bimodal distribution in which the students form two separate clumps: "A" students in the higher clump; "B" students in the lower clump, and the occasional "C" student as an lower-tail outlier.

Computers, Software, Labs

LISREL

Scientific Software, Inc. has made a student version of LISREL available for free. This version, however, is limited to 20 observed variables in PRELIS and 12 observed variables in LISREL models.

In addition, LISREL 8 has been installed on virtually all machines in the computer-classroom in room 13 DeGarmo Hall. This room is available when the PRC is open but when classes are not in session, which is typically limited to Fridays.

• Download LISREL Free Version

Mx

Mx is a shareware/freeware program that can be downloaded from the internet. The documentation may be downloaded as well. I have little familiarity with this package, but I am looking into using it and will report in class on its suitability for our uses. The package is reported to do all that LISREL does and more...

• Download Mx

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty, in any form, will not be tolerated. Copying homework, presenting someone else's work without citation as one's own, or other forms of plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty will result in a grade of ``F'' and referral to the student judicial office.