is it possible to use PROCESS macro in SPSS (Hayes, 2013; Hayes, 2015) for an indirect Moderated Mediation hypothesis test where Independent variables are more than one? More specifically, 3 independent variables, 1 mediator, 1 dependent variable, and 1 path B Moderator in the mediation process.
Regards
I wrote to respected Andrew F Hays to ask the same and was informed that it is not possible to test more than one independent variables simultaneously when testing a Moderated Mediation hypothesis in PROCESS. However, one by one independent and more than one mediating variables are possible to test in PROCESS.
Baron & Kenny (1986) highlighted the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably.
Baron & Kenny (1986) wrote:
“The moderator functions of third variables, which partitions a focal independent variable into subgroups that establish its domains of maximal effectiveness in regard to a given dependent variable. The mediator functions of a third variable, which represents the generative mechanism through which the focal independent variable is able to influence the dependent variable of interest.”
Moderating Variable- moderator is a variable which will cancel the relationship with two variables. Moderator is a variable which will refuse the degree of relationship between two variables. Moderator can be totally canceled the relationship between two variables.
Moderating - changing
Eg: You feel sleep in the class after having a heavy lunch. So there is a relationship. But assume you don’t feel sleep in the class after having a huge lunch. The answer is the moderator, may be the interesting nature of the lecturer or exam fear.
Intervening variable alternatively called mediating variable
Intervening variable – Assume training and job performance, the relationship is positive. Greater the job training better the job performance. How does the training increase the job performance? If you have an answer, then the answer is the intervening variable. Learning is the acquisition of new knowledge and attitude. So training will result in learning which will result in job performance.
For more details please refer the articles given below.
References
Frazier, P.A., Tix, A.P. and Barron, K.E., 2004. Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of counseling psychology, 51(1), p.115.
Baron, R.M. and Kenny, D.A., 1986. The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of personality and social psychology, 51(6), p.1173.
Thanks Dear Anuradha for your insightful explanation about the distinctive functions of Moderating and Mediating variables. However, I was concerned about the possibility of statistically analyse moderation (conditional effect) of an indirect effect (mediation) in one go (called moderated mediation by Edwards & Lambert, 2007; Preacher, Rucker, & Hayes, 2007; Hayes, 2013, Hayes, 2015), without doing it in stepwise fashion. As per best of my knowledge, though, moderated mediation type of analysis can only be done with special Macros, PROCESS Macros for example in SPSS. But, as I mentioned above, at the moment more than one independent variable can not be tested in moderated-mediation analysis. Tq
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