PROCESS vs. Structural Equation Modeling - Online Course

The Analysis of the Mechanisms and Contingencies of Effects

ABSTRACT

Mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis are three analytical techniques widely used by behavioral and health scientists interested in examining the mechanisms responsible for and the boundary conditions of effects. Over the last decade, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression-based PROCESS add-on for SPSS, SAS, and R has become the analytical tool of choice for many researchers interested in estimating and testing hypotheses about indirect effects, moderated effects or “interaction,” and moderated mediation.

Though wildly popular, its use is nevertheless controversial. Many but certainly not all of the things that PROCESS can do can also be done with varying degrees of effort and code in a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework, and those who use PROCESS will encounter skeptics who wonder why SEM wasn’t used instead. Many PROCESS users may even wonder this themselves at times.

This seminar will compare and contrast the benefits and pitfalls of using a regression-based approach to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis compared to an SEM approach. Some of the features of PROCESS relative to those available in good SEM programs are described. Emphasis throughout is placed on relative convenience, capabilities, and accuracy of PROCESS versus SEM, with some occasional discussion of controversies and philosophies of modeling.

Attendance at this seminar will benefit scientists in any field who have used or may use regression analysis or SEM in their research to answer questions about the mechanisms of effects and their contingencies. No experience with PROCESS or SEM is required, but some familiarity with one or both would be helpful. As this is not a hands-on seminar, there are no computational requirements to experience and benefit from this seminar. Throughout the seminar, PROCESS and SEM code will be provided to illustrate some of the ideas discussed.

This Distinguished Speaker Series seminar will consist of three hours of lecture and Q&A, held live* via the free video-conferencing software Zoom.

*The video recording of the seminar will be made available to registrants within 24 hours and will be accessible for four weeks thereafter. That means that you can watch all of the class content and discussion even if you cannot participate synchronously. 

Closed captioning is available for all live and recorded sessions. Live captions can be translated to a variety of languages including Spanish, Korean, and Italian. For more information, click here.

If you’d like to learn more about mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and the PROCESS macro, join Amanda Montoya for a 3-day livestream seminar on April 18-20.