This assignment is modeled on the reading
Principles
of Path Analysis. Read this carefully first. The
assignment is to prepare inut and output path diagrams similar to the ones
in the reading, using data from Microcase.
1 You may use any Microcase data set. However, path analysis
requires variables that are measured on a linear scale, or at least a rough
approximation of one, or that are dichotomous. The USA and GSS data
sets are good, but in the GSS, use the expanded form of variables when possible
(these have an exclamation point after the name). There are more choices
in the professional edition of Microcase, available in the labs. Write
the name of your dataset here:
2. Write or type the names of at least four variables you will use
here:
3. Describe your causal hypothesis in a paragraph:
4. Draw an input path diagram, similar to the one in the reading.
You may do this by hand if you bring the assignment to class. If
you are doing it in Word, click on the Drawing icon to open the Drawing toolbar.
5. Write out the regression equations you need to compute to estimate
the model, listing the dependent variables on the left and the independent
variables on the right. You should have two or three equations, one
for each dependent variable.
6. Now draw an output pathdiagram similar to the ones in the reading.
Put the beta-weights on the diagram.