Journal Articles

The Relative Validity of Inferences About Mediation as a Function of Research Design Characteristics

---

Tests of assumed mediation models are common in the organizational sciences.
However, the validity of inferences about mediation is a function of experimental design and the setting of a study.
Regrettably, most tests of mediation have relied on the application of so-called ``causal modeling'' techniques
to data from nonexperimental studies. As we demonstrate, inferences about the validity of assumed mediation models are highly suspect when they are based on the findings of nonexperimental research. One of the many reasons for this is the failure of the model being tested to be consistent with reality. Valid research-based inferences about mediation are possible. However, inferences from such tests are most likely to be valid when they are based on research that uses randomized experimental designs. Strategies for conducting research using these and other designs are described. Finally, we offer a set of conclusions and recommendations that stem from our analysis.

---

Availability

No copy data

Detail Information

Series Title

Organizational Research Methods

Call Number

-

Publisher

California : Sage Publications., 2008

Collation

-

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

1094-4281

Classification

-

Content Type

-

Media Type

-

Carrier Type

-

Edition

Vol. 11, No. 2, Page 326-352

Subject(s)

mediating effects
structural equation modeling
causal inferences
tests of mediation
mediator variables

Specific Detail Info

-

Statement of Responsibility

-

Other version/related

File Attachment

Comments

---

You must be logged in to post a comment