Many researchers in the social and behavioural sciences are using, or want to use, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to investigate their theories. Mplus is a popular and flexible software package for doing SEM. If you already know how to analyse your data in Mplus, but want to learn more about what you are actually doing and especially about diverse forms of longitudinal analyses, this 5-day course is for you.
This is a five-day course on structural equation modeling (SEM) using Mplus for researchers in the social and behavioural sciences who are already experienced Mplus users, with a particular focus on longitudinal models.
During the first day we focus on the formulas behind SEM, how to calculating the number of parameters and degrees of freedom by hand as a useful way of model checking, how to interpret the TECH1 output, when to worry about the default settings in Mplus, model parameterization, and model fit. In the following four days diverse longitudinal models are discussed, including recent development with respect to cross-lagged panel models, the latent difference/change score models, latent growth curve models, latent class growth models, latent transition analysis, and dynamic structural equation models. Participants obtain hands-on experience with these topics and models during computer labs.
For this course we assume participants have Mplus experience and basic SEM knowledge (but note you do not need to know matrix algebra, calculus, or likelihood theory).
After registration, we will ask you to briefly describe your SEM and Mplus experience as well as your expectations from this course, in order to see whether this is the right course for you.
A good preparation for this course is our Summer School course 'Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling using Mplus' or any other one week introduction SEM course.
You might also be interested in the following Summer School courses:
- Theory-Based Hypothesis Evaluation Using the p-value, Bayes factor, and information criteria, an applied course on evaluating theory-based hypotheses (via Bayesian and information-theoretic model selection) and on addressing causes of the replication crisis.
- A gentle introduction to Bayesian Statistics, for more background information on Bayesian estimation.
Course director
Dr. Rebecca Kuiper
Lecturers
Prof. Dr. Ellen Hamaker, Mariëlle Zondervan-Zwijnenburg, Dr. Caspar van Lissa
Target audience
(Master) Students or (post-graduate) researchers who already use Mplus and followed a multiple-day introduction into Mplus, for example the course ‘Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling using Mplus’. Participants from a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, education, human development, marketing, business, biology, medicine, political science, and communication sciences, may benefit from the course.
After registration we will ask you to briefly describe your SEM and Mplus experience as well as your expectations from this course, in order to see whether this is the right course for you.
A maximum of 80 participants will be allowed in this course.
Please note: there is always a one-day delay between the registration system and the information on the website about the availability of places.
Course aim
The main objective of the course is to acquire an expert understanding of how longitudinal models as applied in the social and behavioural sciences are analysed using Mplus.
Study load
Five full days
Costs
Housing through Utrecht Summer School
Tuition fee for PhD students from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences from Utrecht University will be funded by the Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
Scholarships
Utrecht Summer School does not offer scholarships for this course.
Application
You have registered for the ‘Advanced course on using Mplus’. Could you please (briefly) describe what experience you have with SEM and Mplus, and what your expectations from this course are? We use this information to see whether we believe this is the right course for you. As soon as we receive your description we will consider your registration. If you have no experience with using Mplus we kindly refer you to our Summer School course ‘Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling using Mplus’ (S20) (8-12 July). Please use the required short motivation field to submit your motivation and/or send an email to ms.summerschool@uu.nl
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
