Vanderbilt University.
Psychol Methods. 2016 Jun;21(2):164-74. doi: 10.1037/met0000047. Epub 2015 Aug 31.
Many researchers are interested in using structural equation models to test theoretical relations among multidimensional constructs; however, logistical constraints often prevent researchers from obtaining multiple measures. The current study examines the implications for such models when a latent variable is extracted from carefully constructed parcels of items obtained from a single multidimensional measure of the multidimensional target construct. Two parceling methods are compared. One is homogeneous parceling, in which items are pooled so that each parcel represents a single lower order dimension of the higher order construct. The other is heterogeneous parceling, in which items are pooled so that each parcel represents all lower order dimensions of the higher order construct. Results of simulated and real data analysis reveal that both approaches can result in models that fit the data well; however, conceptual-theoretical differences exist in the nature of the latent variables that are extracted from homogeneous versus heterogeneous parcels. Additionally, compared with homogeneous parceling, heterogeneous parceling generates smaller (i.e., closer to zero) but tighter estimates of structural path coefficients, the net result of which is greater statistical power to test substantive relations among latent variables. Beyond parceling, implications surface about the nature of latent variables that emerge when the underlying constructs are multidimensional. (PsycINFO Database Record
许多研究人员都有兴趣使用结构方程模型来检验多维构念之间的理论关系；然而，由于逻辑上的限制，研究人员通常无法获得多个测量结果。本研究考察了当从多维目标构念的单个多维测量中精心构建的项目包中提取潜在变量时，这些模型会产生什么影响。比较了两种分块方法。一种是同质分块，其中将项目汇总在一起，以便每个包代表高阶构念的单个低阶维度。另一种是异质分块，其中将项目汇总在一起，以便每个包代表高阶构念的所有低阶维度。模拟和实际数据分析的结果表明，这两种方法都可以得到拟合数据的模型；然而，从同质与异质包中提取的潜在变量在性质上存在概念理论上的差异。此外，与同质分块相比，异质分块生成的结构路径系数（即更接近零）较小但更紧的估计值，其净结果是增加了检验潜在变量之间实质性关系的统计能力。除了分块之外，当基础构念是多维时，还会出现潜在变量的性质。
