The Language of Structural Models — data and JASP files for the worked examples

Abstract

Data extracts and JASP files for the worked examples in "The Language of Structural Models: Regression, Path Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling in the Social Sciences" by Paula A. Tufiș. The book introduces structural equation modeling to social science graduate students, building from simple linear regression through path analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to full structural equation models with latent variables. Every worked example in the book can be reproduced from the files in this deposit. Contents: GSS2012marriedmen33cases.sav — General Social Survey 2012, 33 married men. Used for the husbands' housework example in Chapter 2. GSS2018employed.sav — General Social Survey 2018, employed respondents. Used for Example 3.1, predictors of income, in Chapter 3. GSS2022employed.sav — General Social Survey 2022, employed respondents. Used for Examples 5.1 to 5.3 in Chapter 5 (variances and covariances, a multiple regression model in a path framework, and direct, indirect and total effects). NELS88extract.sav — National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, public-use file. Used for Examples 6.1 and 6.2 in Chapter 6 (one-factor and multiple-factor CFA) and Examples 7.1 to 7.3 in Chapter 7 (metric invariance, a full structural equation model of academic achievement, and multiple-group SEM). JASP files, one per example, carrying the model specification, estimation options and output as reported in the book. README.md — file inventory, variable lists, software versions and source data citations. These are derived extracts containing a subset of variables, and in some cases a subset of cases, from the original public-use files. They are provided so that readers can reproduce the book's examples directly. Readers who need the full files, the complete documentation or the survey weights should obtain them from NORC (GSS, https://gss.norc.org) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NELS:88, https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/nels88/). Anyone using these files in published work should cite the original data sources alongside this deposit. Models were estimated in JASP (versions 0.96.0, 0.97.0 and 0.98.1). Model syntax follows lavaan conventions. Diagrams were produced with lavaangui. Data preparation was carried out in IBM SPSS Statistics 30.