Short Bio
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jochen Mayerl is researcher and lecturer in empirical methods of Social Sciences at University of Kaiserslautern (Germany) since March 2013. From November 2001 to February 2013, he was lecturer in Sociology and empirical social research at University of Stuttgart, where he has taught various research and analysis methods. He finished his doctoral thesis "Cognitive foundations of social behaviour: theoretical and statistical analysis of attitude-behaviour relations" in 2008. In winter term 2011/2012, he was substitute professor at University of Kassel, Germany. His main research interests in methodology are new developments and applications in structural equation modelling, response effects in surveys, and response latency measurement in computer assisted surveys. He published in the field of methodology as well as sociological theory (attitude-behaviour research, bounded rationality, framing) and substantial research (e.g. donation behaviour, environmental concern, ethnocentrism, political attitudes).
Prerequisite knowledge
Participants should understand basic principles of regression analysis and the meaning of regression results. A basic understanding of principal component analysis (explorative factor analysis) would be helpful. Participants should be familiar with software to manage data (e.g. SPSS, STATA, R).
Short course outline
The course gives an introduction to theory and practice of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with computer software AMOS. It is shown how theoretical latent constructs (e.g. social and political attitudes, values, and intentions) can be operationalised and how their causal relationships can be tested.
The first part of the course introduces the specification of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as a special case of SEM. Measurement models with single or multiple indicators of latent variables are estimated and tested. Different modelling specifications will be introduced including multiple group analysis (e.g. to test measurement equivalence across different social groups or countries). The second part of the course deals with specification and test of causal structural equation models (e.g. MIMIC models (Multiple Indicators and Multiple Causes), assessment of models, mediation and moderation, feedback loops).
Instructor Bio
Jochen Mayerl has been a researcher and lecturer in empirical methods of Social Sciences at University of Kaiserslautern since March 2013.
From November 2001 to February 2013, he lectured in Sociology and empirical social research at the University of Stuttgart, where he has taught various research and analysis methods. He finished his doctoral thesis, Cognitive foundations of social behaviour: theoretical and statistical analysis of attitude-behaviour relations, in 2008. During the winter term 2011/2012, he was substitute professor at the University of Kassel, Germany.
His main research interests in methodology are new developments and applications in structural equation modelling, response effects in surveys, and response latency measurement in computer assisted surveys.
He has published in the field of methodology as well as sociological theory (attitude-behaviour research, bounded rationality, framing) and substantial research (e.g. donation behaviour, environmental concern, ethnocentrism, political attitudes).
