New Methods - Speakers and Presentations

Saturday, October 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

"Structural equation models for exchangeable and distinguishable dyads and small groups"
Presentation outline is available by clicking here.

Joseph A. Olsen, Assistant Dean, the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University

Dr. Olsen's interests center on the quantitative study of human development, personal relationships, and social interaction, with a particular focus on using structural equation and multilevel models to study small groups and microsocial contexts.





Abstract: "Structural equation models for exchangeable and distinguishable dyads and small groups"
Presentation outline is available by clicking here.

Studies of dyads and small groups face the well known problem of potentially nonindependent responses from multiple group members. Additionally, the relationships among group members' responses are often of central research interest, not simply a statistical nuisance. We outline several useful statistical models for analyzing these relationships and illustrate how to estimate and test the models using standard structural equation modeling (SEM) software. We address the analytic implications of whether the group members belong to a single class (e.g. same-sex twins) or to multiple classes (e.g. husbands and wives). Beginning with dyads, we extend the analysis to larger groups and to cases having mixed group sizes, and compare these models with related approaches using traditional multilevel modeling and multilevel mean and covariance structure analysis.

Selected Publications:

Olsen, J.A., and Kenny, D.A. (2006). "Structural equation modeling with interchangeable dyads". Psychological Methods, 11(2), 127-141.

Nelson, D. A., Hart, C. H., Yang, C., Olsen, J. A., & Jin S. (2006). "Aversive parenting in China: associations with child physical and relational aggression". Child Development, 77(3), 554-572.

Johnson, J. E., Burlingame, G. M., Olsen, J. A.., Davies, D. R., & Gleave, R. L. (2005). "Group climate, cohesion, alliance, and empathy in group psychotherapy: Multilevel structural equation models". Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(3), 310-321

Barber, B. K., Stolz, H. E., & Olsen, J. A. (2005)."Parental support, psychological control, and behavioral control: Assessing relevance across time, culture, and method."; Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 70(4), 1-137.

Stolz, H. E., Barber, B. K. & Olsen, J. A.. (2005) Toward disentangling fathering and mothering: An assessment of relative importance. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(4), 1076-1092.

Barber, B. K., Maughan, S. L., & Olsen, J. A. (2005). "Patterns of parenting across adolescence". New Directions in Child and Adolescent Development, 108, 5-16.

Hilton, S. C., Schau, C., & Olsen, J. A. (2004). "urvey of attitudes toward statistics: Factor structure invariance by gender and by administration time". Structural Equation Modeling, 11(1), 92-109.

Birch, P. J., Weed, S. W., & Olsen, J. A. (2004) "Assessing the impact of community marriage policies on county divorce rates". Family Relations, 53(5), 495-503.

Barber, B. K., & Olsen, J. A.. (2004)"Assessing the transitions to middle and high school". Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(1), 3-30.