NCRM Autumn School 2012 for Early Career Researchers: Structural Equation Modelling - principles and practice


Dates: 7-9 November 2012

Venue: University of Southampton

The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) held its eight residential training event for early career researchers on 7-9 November 2012. The Autumn School was an exploration of structural equation modelling, led by Professor Patrick Sturgis (University of Southampton). Participants were introduced to the principles of structural equation modelling and given hands-on experience of fitting these models with computer software. There were presentations from a number of experts who have applied these models in their own research to answer substantive questions, and participants had the opportunity to take part in ‘data clinics’ to think about how they might use structural equation models in their own research and to discuss some of the methodological challenges arising from their work with both other participants and the course instructors.

 

Who was it for?

The NCRM Autumn School is for post-doctoral early career researchers from across the UK social science community who are employed in research-led contracts and who often do not have the same opportunities to participate in training events. However, PhD students and junior lecturers are also eligible to apply. Autumn School 2012 participants were expected to be familiar with basic statistical theory, including inference and multiple linear regression, but no prior knowledge of Structural Equation Modelling, or computer software was assumed.

 

The Autumn School was led by the NCRM Director Professor Patrick Sturgis from the NCRM Hub at the University of Southampton.


Programme

Wednesday 7 November

12.30-1.00  Registration and lunch
100-1.15     Autumn School welcome
1.15-2.15    Introductions
2.15-2.45    What is Structural Equation Modelling?

2.45-3.00    Tea/Coffee

3.00-3.45    Preliminary Ideas, Terms and Concepts in SEM
3.45-4.30    The Measurement Model. Confirmatory Factor Analysis
4.30-5.30    Professor Patrick Sturgis, University of Southampton, Evaluating Change in Social and Political Trust in Europe

7.30 Dinner

 

Thursday 8 November

9.00-10.00    Exercise 1. Estimating a Confirmatory Factor Model (Computer Lab)
10.00-10.45  Measurement Model 2. Model Fit and Model Modification

10.45-11.00  Tea

11.00-12.00  The Structural Model
12.00-1.00    Dr Ben Bradford, University of Oxford, Why do People Comply with the Law? Legitimacy and the Influence of Legal Institutions

1.00-2.30      Lunch

2.30-3.45      Exercise 2. Estimating Structural Models (Computer Lab)

3.45-4.00      Tea/Coffee

4.00-4.45      Dr Sanna Read, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Parenthood history, Allostatic Load and Health in Old Age
4.45-5.45      Group Exercise. SEM problem solving

7.30               Dinner

 

Friday 9 November

9.00-10.00     Extensions to the basic structural model
10.00-11.00   Data Clinic. discuss your research and data with the experts (Computer Lab)

11.00-11.15   Tea/coffee

11.00-12.30   Data Clinic. discuss your research and data with the experts (Computer Lab)

Data Clinic. Bring your own data and start working on your own SEM, with help from each other and from the Autumn School speakers.

12.30-12.45  Summary and Review

12.45             Lunch

End of Autumn School


You can view a full listing of NCRM residential schools