Linear mediation

Content

Linear mediation model

Learning objectives

At the end of the session, students should be capable of

fitting a linear mediation model
discussing limitations of the linear mediation model

Readings

Chapter 13 of the course notes
Chapter 11 of VanderWeele (2015)
Linear mediation model (Baron & Kenny, 1986)
Limitations of the linear mediation model approach (Bullock et al., 2010)
Model assumptions (Imai et al., 2010; Pearl, 2014)

Slides

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Code

Tip

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References

Baron, R., & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173

Bullock, J. G., Green, D. P., & Ha, S. E. (2010). Yes, but what’s the mechanism? (Don’t expect an easy answer). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(4), 550–558. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018933

Imai, K., Keele, L., & Tingley, D. (2010). A general approach to causal mediation analysis. Psychological Methods, 15(4), 309–334. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020761

Pearl, J. (2014). Interpretation and identification of causal mediation. Psychological Methods, 19(4), 459–481. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036434

VanderWeele, T. (2015). Explanation in causal inference: Methods for mediation and interaction. Oxford University Press.