Understanding and Using Mediators and Moderators

Mediation and moderation are two theories for refining and understanding a causal relationship. Empirical investigation of mediators and moderators requires an integrated research design rather than the data analyses driven approach often seen in the literature. This paper described the conceptual f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSocial indicators research Vol. 87; no. 3; pp. 367 - 392
Main Authors Wu, Amery D., Zumbo, Bruno D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dordrecht Springer 01.07.2008
Springer Netherlands
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Basic Skills
Behavioral Sciences
Causal Models
Causality
Children
Correlation
Data Analysis
Dependent variables
Design analysis
Difficulty Level
Drug abuse
Drug use
Experiment design
Experiments
General studies
Human Geography
Hypotheses
Hypothesis testing
Independent variables
Inference
Inferences
Investigations
Mediation
Mediation Theory
Mediators
Microeconomics
Modeling
Outcomes of education
Predictor Variables
Prevention programs
Public Health
Quality of Life Research
Research Design
Research Methodology
Researchers
Social psychology
Social Sciences
Sociology
Statistical analysis
Structural Equation Models
Test Anxiety
Theories
Moderator
Cause and effect
Experimental design
Structural equation model
Mediator
Mediated moderation
Moderated mediation
Model
Test
Experiment
Relationship
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Summary:Mediation and moderation are two theories for refining and understanding a causal relationship. Empirical investigation of mediators and moderators requires an integrated research design rather than the data analyses driven approach often seen in the literature. This paper described the conceptual foundation, research design, data analysis, as well as inferences involved in a mediation and/or moderation investigation in both experimental and non-experimental (i.e., correlational) contexts. The essential distinctions between the investigation of mediators and moderators were summarized and juxtaposed in an example of a causal relationship between test difficulty and test anxiety. In addition, the more elaborate models, moderated mediation and mediated moderation, the use of structural equation models, and the problems with model misspecification were discussed conceptually.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0303-8300
1573-0921
DOI:10.1007/s11205-007-9143-1