84266 Polites
MIS 84266: Directed Research
(Structural Equation Modeling)
Fall Semester 2014
CRN 16185
Thursday – 12:00 to 3:00 PM
Classroom: BSA A404
Instructor
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: TBA; by appointment
Course Web Site: BlackBoard
Course Description
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.
Prerequisites
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.
Textbooks
Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (3rd 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.
Course Software
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 download SmartPLS for free from
http://www.smartpls.de/forum/.
Course Objectives
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.
Grading Information
The +/- grading system will be used for this course. Points will be distributed as follows.
Components of the Final Course Grade Conversion for Final Course Grades
Class participation 20% 200 pts 93% - 100% 930 – 1000 pts A
Homework and quizzes 20% 200 pts 90% - 92.99% 900 – 929.99 pts ACovariance-
based practicum 20% 200 pts 87% - 89.99% 870 – 899.99 pts B+
Component-based practicum 20% 200 pts 83% - 86.99% 830 – 869.99 pts B
Final exam 20% 200 pts 80% - 82.99% 800 – 829.99 pts BTOTAL
100% 1,000 pts 77% - 79.99% 770 – 799.99 pts C+
73% - 76.99% 730 – 769.99 pts C
70% - 72.99% 700 – 729.99 pts C-
60% - 69.99% 600 – 699.99 pts D
Below 60% < 600 pts F
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.
Course Policies
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.
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, 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.
University Policies
The following policies apply to all students in this course:
A. 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 the work or course. Repeat offenses result in dismissal from the University.
B. For Fall 2014, the course withdrawal deadline is Sunday, November 2, 2014.
C. 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).
D. 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 7, 2014 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.
Tentative Schedule of Classes
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.
Week Date Topic Textbook Chapter
1 August 28 Course intro, review of relevant topics Kline Ch 1-4
2 September 4 Model specification (AMOS) Kline Ch 5
3 September 11 Model identification (AMOS) Kline Ch 6
4 September 18 Model estimation & hypothesis testing (AMOS) Kline Ch 7, 8
5 September 25 Measurement model testing (AMOS) Kline Ch 9
6 October 2 Structural model testing (AMOS) Kline Ch 10, 12 (in part)
7 October 9 Common method bias (AMOS) TBA
8 October 16 Multi-group and multi-level analysis Kline Ch 12 (in part)
9 October 23 AMOS practicum presentations PRACTICUM #1 DUE
10 October 30 Intro to PLS Hair et al. Ch 1-3
11 November 6 Measurement model testing (PLS) Hair et al. Ch 4, 5
12 November 13 Structural model testing (PLS) Hair et al. Ch 6
13 November 20 Advanced topics (PLS) Hair et al. Ch 7, 8
14 November 27 THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
15 December 4 PLS practicum presentations PRACTICUM #2 DUE
16 December 11 FINAL EXAM (in-class and take-home)
