Quantitative

Research Methods
Lecture Regression analysis part 2:
Moderation and mediation

Eric Jacobs
Hubert Korzilius

Methodology
Nijmegen School of Management
 Today

 Interaction model: model with moderator

 Mediation model: model with mediator

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 Learning objectives
 You know about a simple analysis for an interaction model (moderation) and mediation model, what the
key elements are, how you can test a model with one variable as a moderator or a mediator and
interpret the results, and you can express and substantiate this.
 You can carry out analyzes in SPSS through the procedure PROCESS to test a simple model with one
variable as moderator or mediator and you can express the choices you make and substantiate them
adequately.
 You can interpret, express and adequately substantiate the results of the analyzes of a simple
interaction model and mediation model.
 Empirical cycle
literature study
data preparation, incl.
operationalization scale construction
conceptual observation/
data analysis conclusions
model data collection

research problem
empirical part
research in restricted sense
Interaction and mediation
M
interaction
X Y

a M b

mediation X
c’
Y

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Interaction model
M

X Y X Y

 1 dependent variable
 Theory driven regression analysis

Interaction effect
Is the effect of X on Y conditional (significant)?

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Interaction model

M1 X Y

M2 X Y

M3 X Y

Interaction effect
Is the effect of X on Y conditional?

Does the effect of X on Y differ for different categories of M?

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Interaction model: example
To what extent does the relationship between the number of
hours that youngsters play video games and the extent to
which they display aggressive behavior be moderated by the
degree to which they have callous unemotional traits? (Field,
2018)

Interaction effect: Is the effect of number of hours of playing

video games on aggressive behavior (Aggress) conditional for
different degrees of callous unemotional traits (CU traits)?

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Interaction model: example
CONCEPTUAL MODEL:

CU traits

Games Aggress

STATISTICAL MODEL:

Games
Aggress
CU traits
Games * CU traits 9
Interaction model: analysis

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Interaction model: analysis

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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Interaction model: analysis
(PROCESS)

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 Mediation model
a M b
c c’
X Y X Y

 > 1 dependent variables (M and Y)

 Theory driven regression analysis
 Interpret the original relationship X  Y
 Split in parts: direct and indirect effect(s)
 Indirect effect = ab
 Is the effect ab substantial (significant)?
 Difference c’ and c? 19
 Mediation model
Hypothesis
The more employees are satisfied with their work (JS), the more
they have the intention to stay with the company (SI), because
the more committed they are to the organization (OC).
Conceptual model

JS OC SI
task: test hypothesis via regression analysis (PROCESS)
a)How many and what regression analyses needed?
b)What relationships are expected?

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 Mediation model: example
a OC b
c’
JS SI

Sub models: Hypotheses:

c
1 JS SI H0: b = 0
b
2 OC SI HA b ≠ 0
c’
JS
a
3 JS OC
ab
JS OC SI
4
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 Mediation model: SPSS
a M b
c c’
X Y X Y
Process: (mainly) test for mediation effect ab
Parameters:
> (un)standardized effects a,b,c,c’ ab
> completely standardized indirect effect
Test: t-tests, confidence intervals

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 Mediation model: SPSS
a M b
c c’
X Y X Y
Mediation effect:
Sobel (often reported): ab (only previous versions PROCESS)
Effect size:
 completely standardized indirect effect
 ration between c’- c
Unstandardized effects: a,b,c,c’,ab

Significance test:
Formal, t test
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Indirect effect ab: bootstrap procedure [CI]

Mediation model: bootstrap

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Mediation model: CI

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Mediation model: analysis
(PROCESS)
a OC b
c’
JS SI

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Mediation model: analysis
(PROCESS)
a OC b
c’
JS SI

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Mediation model: analysis
(PROCESS)

a OC b
c c’
JS SI JS SI

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Mediation model: analysis
(PROCESS)

Effect size:

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