Essay Instructions: In this case, we ask you to review some background on the idea of mediators and moderators, and then consider some implications of this distinction for analysis. Two key articles are worth your perusal. The first is the classic article that described the distinction and originally prescribed ways of dealing with it; the second is a recent review and extension of this approach:
Baron, R. M., & 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, 1173??"1182. Retrieved from http://www.public.asu.edu/~davidpm/classes/psy536/Baron.pdf
Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 879-891. Retrieved from http://quantpsy.org/pubs/preacher_hayes_2008b.pdf
The following empirical article expands on these issues and presents some concrete applications:
Frazier,P.F., Tix, A.P. & Barron, K.E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(1), 115??"134. Retrieved from http://dionysus.psych.wisc.edu/lit/articles/frazierp2004a.pdf
Case assignment
Read these background articles, supplemented if you wish with material from the optional readings and perhaps the supplementary background as well, and even other outside reading you might find by yourself to be useful. Then write a 3+ pages critique of the approach to management and testing of mediator and moderator effects presented in Frazier et al. (2004) article..
Case assignment expectations
As noted, a critique is a review and commentary on a particular article or piece of research. It is not necessarily critical in the negative sense, although you may need to comment negatively on some aspects; both positive and negative aspects should be treated. Just because something appears in print, even in an A-list journal, does not make it free from possible errors or beyond criticism; nothing should be necessarily taken at face value. Your informed commentary and analysis is as important as your summary of the material in the article -- simply repeating what the article says does not constitute an adequate critique. You are also expected to use the terminology of path analysis and regression correctly and clearly.
In this case, your critique should address at least the following issues, as well as any other points that you find relevant and worthy of comment:
• a brief summary of the article and its main points and recommendations
• your assessment of its quality and value, in light of the rest of what you have read about effects and mediation/moderation
• How large must an effect size be in order for us to find it interesting?
• Are the criteria for effect sizes different for main effects than for mediators or moderators?
In the course of developing your critique, please be clear about the criteria you are applying, purposes of the analysis you find relevant, and the specific analytical procedures you are applying.
Remember, this is an applied statistics course. Thus, explaining the statistical tools, interpreting coefficients, and understanding the properties of the data analysis are particularly important, and need your careful thought and comment, not just general or generic observations.
You are expected to present your critique in appropriate academic form and language, with citations to the readings where needed
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