84266 Polites

MIS 84266:  Directed Research

(Structural Equation Modeling)

Fall Semester 2015

CRN 15896

Thursday – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Classroom: BSA A404

Dr. Greta L. Polites

Department of Management & Information Systems

College of Business Administration

Email:                   gpolites@kent.edu

Phone:                 (330) 672-1166 (office)

Office:                  BSA A406

Office Hours:         M 11am-12pm & 1-1:30pm, W 9am-12pm, Thurs 1-1:30pm, and by appointment

Course Web Site:   BlackBoard

This course will provide students with a foundation in both covariance-based and component-based structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. After a brief review of relevant concepts from the linear regression and multivariate analysis courses, we will cover SEM topics such as model specification, identification, estimation, fit, and testing of both measurement and structural models. Time will also be devoted to understanding formative vs. reflective measurement, high order constructs, interaction, multi-group and multi-level analysis, and assessing common method bias.

MIS 84023 (Linear Statistical Models); MIS 74017 (Multivariate Statistics); doctoral standing

Students who do not have the proper prerequisites risk being deregistered from the class.

Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (3^rd Edition, 2011) by Kline

The Guilford Press, ISBN: 978-1-60623-876-9

A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (2014) by Hair et al.

Sage Publications, ISBN: 978-1-4522-1744-4

Journal articles will also be assigned on a regular basis, to supplement the textbook material.

AMOS is to be used for all covariance-based SEM assignments. AMOS is available from the College for installation on university-owned computers; it can be rented through e-academy for use on personal computers.

SmartPLS is to be used for all component-based SEM assignments. You can request a download of SmartPLS version 2.0.M3 for free from the following website: https://www.smartpls.com/smartpls2.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• recognize the research contexts in which various SEM techniques can be appropriately applied,
• explain the issues involved in choosing between covariance-based and component-based SEM,
• properly specify and test a variety of  different measurement and structural models,
• properly report results of SEM model testing as required for publication in top research journals, and

·          competently review academic journal submissions that use SEM techniques.

The +/- grading system will be used for this course. Points will be distributed as follows.

All assignments are due at the start of class on the due date. There are no make-ups for missed work, and late work will not be accepted. Exceptions may be made for documented extenuating circumstances, such as an emergency illness or death in the family, as long as you notify me ASAP. If you need to miss class for a university-approved activity such as presenting at an academic conference, please let me know well in advance.

All grades in the course are final and non-negotiable.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Given the small class size, regular participation will be expected from everyone. Please show up for class on time, with the day’s reading assignments and homework problems completed, so that you are prepared to engage thoughtfully in the class discussions. Electronic devices are only to be used for class purposes.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

At the end of most class periods, I will assign you one or more SEM exercises to complete before the next class. All homework assignments should be completed using AMOS or SmartPLS as appropriate. All homework is to be completed alone, i.e., without copying or sharing data, syntax files, or output with your classmates.

QUIZZES

There will be at least one quiz, covering Greek symbols and terminology. There may be others. Quizzes, when administered, will be worth the same number of points as a weekly homework assignment. All quizzes are closed book, closed notes and wil be administered at the beginning of the class period.

PRACTICUMS

You will each complete two SEM practicums during the semester, based on raw data sets that I provide to you, or alternatively, an approved data set that is based on your own research. One will require covariance-based SEM analysis using AMOS, and the other will require component-based SEM analysis using SmartPLS. Each practicum will require you to address issues related to model specification, identification, estimation, and fit, as well as rigorous testing of measurement and structural models. Your results should be written up as though they will be submitted to an academic journal as part of a completed research paper. You will also be expected to present your findings to the rest of the class at the end of the semester, in a format similar to that of a short conference presentation. More details on the practicums will be distributed in class at the appropriate time.

FINAL EXAM

There will be one comprehensive exam at the end of the semester. It will likely include both an in-class and take-home component. The in-class component will require you to explain or compare / contrast concepts associated with both covariance-based and component-based SEM techniques, and interpret statistical software printouts. The take-home component will require you to critically evaluate a research article that uses SEM. I will most likely give you the article to read in advance of final exam week, and then ask you targeted questions about the SEM analysis included in the article during the in-class portion of the exam.

If you have a university-sanctioned need to be absent on an exam day, you must inform me in advance. Makeup exams will not be allowed without formal documentation, and may be more difficult than the version of the exam administered in class.

Returned exams and other course materials are not to be sold or posted online in any form.

The following policies apply to all students in this course:

1. Academic honesty: Per KSU policy, "cheating" means to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects, assignments) so as to get undeserved credit. In addition, it is considered to be cheating when one cooperates with someone else in any such misrepresentation. The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for either the work or the course. Repeat offenses result in dismissal from the University.

2. For Fall 2015, the course withdrawal deadline is Sunday, November 8, 2015.

3. Students with disabilities:  University policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these accommodations through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit http://www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).

4. Students have responsibility to ensure they are properly enrolled in classes.  You are advised to review your official class schedule (using Student Tools on FlashLine) during the first two weeks of the semester to ensure you are properly enrolled in this class and section.  Should  you find an error in your class schedule, you have until Sunday, September 6, 2015 to correct the error.  If registration errors are not corrected by this date and  you continue to attend and participate in classes for which you are not officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any class in which you are not properly registered.

This schedule contains a general layout of the course; however, changes will be necessary.  Topics, assignments, and due dates are all subject to change. Please note that for some topics, I will be assigning additional readings besides those found in the textbooks.