Hi,
In my research, the direct relationship between IV and DV is insignificant. However, when I add a mediator, between the IV and DV, the indirect relationship becomes significant. According to Baron and Kenny (1986 ), four steps, the direct relationship between the significant relationship between IV and DV should exist. However, in my case, the results of IV and DV do not exhibit the significant relationship. Do you think there is a justification for mediation if a direct relationship does not exist? Note that the indirect relationship proves to be highly significant. If it can be done, how can it be interpreted and justified? Any source which can help will be highly appreciated.
Article MacKinnon DP, Krull JL, Lockwood CM. Equivalence of the medi...
http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1132-05592013000100007
I think the suppression effect phenomenon may be happening.
You may still conduct the mediation analysis if the direct relationship is insignificant. You may refer to the following paper pg. 199 of Zhao, Lynch & Chen 2010 which states "There need not be a significant zero-order effect of X on Y, rXY, to establish mediation."
For further interpretation and deeper understanding you may refer:
Zhao, X., Lynch Jr, J. G., & Chen, Q. (2010). Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of consumer research, 37(2), 197-206.
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I have also found an article that suggests that mediation analysis can be conducted even if there is no significant direct relationship between IV and DV. However, instead of mediation, the indirect effect has been used as there is no significant direct relationship between IV and DV. For your reference and anyone who reads this question, please read the article below.
Hayes, A. F. (2009). Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical mediation analysis in the new millennium. Communication monographs, 76(4), 408-420.
In addition, the facts from Experimental Designs seem to support what what Chaudry Bilal Ahmad Khan and Archit Vinod Tapar and @Cristian Ramos-Vera report since in a factorial model interactions can exist without corresponding main effects, See the link:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Montgomery+D+C+Design+and+Analysis+of+Experiments&pc=U528&form=QBLH&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=montgomery+d+c+design+and+analysis+of+experimen&sc=1-47&qs=n&sk=&cvid=AE8F269043D549CBA1487E27F2493C05
The material on factorial designs. Best, David Booth
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