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Mediation & Moderation

Advanced Topics

PSY40630: Quantitative Data Analysis

Dr Laura Taylor

Session 3
 Overview
1. Understanding the differences between mediation and
moderation

2. Analytical approaches to testing mediation and moderation

hypotheses
– Based on regression analysis in SPSS
– PROCESS add-on

3. Advanced topics
– Multiple mediators
– Moderated mediation
– Mediated moderation
 Mediation vs. Moderation
Mediation
• How does X affect Y?
• What is the psychological
mechanism through which X
affects Y?
M
X Y
• Significant indirect effect (a*b)
• Small direct effect (c’ < c)
Moderation
• When does X affect Y?
• Does the relationship between X
and Y change at different levels of
M?
M
X Y
• Significant interaction term (X*M)
• Decomposition of the effect of X
on Y at different levels of M (e.g.,
simple slope analysis)
ADVANCED TOPICS
 Parallel Mediation
• Multiple mediators
– Often the case that there would be multiple
mediators of the relationship between X and Y
– Using PROCESS add-on in SPSS, we can then
determine the size and significance of each indirect
effect
Security

Life
Income satisfaction

Freedom
 Chain Mediation
• Chain mediation:
– allows us to model a more complex mediation
(causal) model with intervening variables
– Indirect effect of income on life satisfaction runs
through freedom and self-efficacy

Self- Life
Income Freedom
efficacy satisfaction
 Review
1. Conceptual distinction and selection of appropriate model
based on your research question; importance of theory
2. Mediation
• Barron & Kenny
• Sobel calculator
• Bootstrapping SPSS Macro
• Prepare and manipulate data for analyses
3. Run and interpret analyses, including supporting diagrams
• Advance extensions:
• Multiple mediator models / Chain mediation
Multiple Mediators
Model 4
 Moderated Mediation
The effect of the mediator differs as a function of another variable (moderator).

(Edwards & Lambert, 2007)

 Extensions: Moderated Mediation

(Edwards & Lambert, 2007)

Moderated mediation
Example
 Testing Moderated Mediation
• Become clear about your theory or your
hypotheses as to which kind of moderated
mediation you expect
• Use PROCESS add-on
• Alternatively, specify the assumed path model
in SEM program.
• Alternatively, use multigroup analysis in SEM.
 Resources: Moderated Mediation
• Edwards, J. R., & Lambert, L. S. (2007). Methods
for integrating moderation and mediation: A
general analytical framework using moderated
path analysis. Psychological Methods, 12, 1-22.
• Preacher, K. J., Rucker, D. D., & Hayes, A. F. (2007).
Addressing moderated mediation hypotheses:
Theory, methods, and prescriptions. Multivariate
Behavioral Research, 42, 185-227.
 Mediated moderation
Mod.

X Med. Y

Identity

IG Rel.

X*Mod. Med. Y
 Example
adapted from Montoya and Pittinsky (2011)

• When and how is group identification related to outgroup liking?

• Identification (‘Identity’) and Intergroup relations (IG Rel) were manipulated

• Identity – high vs. low
• IG Rel – competition and cooperation

• Trust and outgroup liking (‘OG liking’) measured on a Likert scale.

IG Rel.

OG
Identity Trust
Liking
 Example
adapted from Montoya and Pittinsky (2011)

Outgroup trust Outgroup liking

8 Cooperative Competitive 7 Cooperative Competitive
7 6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1 1

0 0
High ID Low ID High ID Low ID
 Example
adapted from Montoya and Pittinsky (2011)

IG Rel.

OG
Identity Trust
Liking

Identity

IG Rel.
+ (sig) + (sig) OG
ID*IGRel Trust
Liking

n.s.
 Testing Mediated Moderation
• Use PROCESS add-on
• Or any SEM software (e.g., AMOS, MPlus)
– MPlus: Useful code:
http://offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/mplusmedmo
d.htm#modindex
 Longitudinal Mediation
• Cole & Maxwell (2009); Maxwell & Cole (2007)
Break
 Mini-Quiz
Multiple Moderators Multiple Moderators
Mini-quiz
 Revised Timetable (Session 3)
Session 1: Mediation
For this week and next, please read Baron & Kenny (1986) and Maxwell & Cole (2007)
Have SPSS downloaded on your laptop
Have Hayes’ Process Macro downloaded and installed on your laptop
 
Session 2: Moderation

Session 3: Advanced Topics in Mediation and Moderation

Session 4: Writing up Results // Defining your Research Question and Testing in SPSS
PPT Slide of research in your area
Your data!
Have your prepped/scored data in SPSS for this class session

Session 5: Refining your Research Question / Analysis

Practice makes proficient – two ‘homework’ write-ups, exchange with a peer [pairs]
Pairs
Troubleshooting, hands-on practice and feedback [breakout rooms]

Session 6: Student Presentations of Results

Short presentations with the main findings that will serve as the basis of your final assignment

Future: Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling // Introduction to Longitudinal Data Analysis

 Next…
• Questions about Moderation Exercise?
• Statistical Power for Mediation
• Writing up Exercise 1 and 2
• Bespoke data questions
Questions about Moderation Handout?
 What is statistical power?
• Correctly rejecting the null hypothesis (H0) when it is true in
the population.
• Type 1 error: False positive (α) [typically = .05]
• Type 2 error: False negative (β)
– Power = 1 – β [typically = .80]
• In essence, the trade off between reducing the potential
threat of both types of error.
• Statistical power needs 4 pieces of information:
– α, β (these are typically specified by the researcher),
– the effect size (from previous literature), and
– the sample size (what we can ‘control’).
Mediation: Statistical Power
 Now, connecting to
your own research or area of interest.
 Next Steps
Session 4 Session 5
1) Find a paper in your area… 1) Write-up Exercise 1 & 2
• Mediation, moderation, or advanced • Based on your handout for
topic
• Prepare a single PPT slide: each week, write up a
– RQ separate Results section for
–
–
Hypotheses
Supporting image
Mediation and Moderation.
– Results / Take-home message These may each be 1-2
– Be prepared to share in ~2 mins paragraphs, with
• Make notes: 2) Post RQ to Discussion
supporting Figures andForum
– What was clear, unclear about the writing or
presentation? captions.
– What would you borrow?
– What would you avoid? • You will exchange these
– Highlight or pull-out precise language /
structure to share.
with a peer in class.
Questions?

2) Have your data prepped/coded

 Housekeeping
You asked?

• Statistically compare Betas:

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=O5OpUAybVOE
• Bootstrapped confidence
(please excuse his
intervals:
breathing!)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=djsZg_iZNT0
 Bespoke Data Questions?
Poll
tinyurl.com/PSY40630RQ
Break