On Conducting a Sensitivity Analysis in Structural Equation Modeling Using Simulated Annealing

• In Event: Sensitivity Analysis in Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

The primary goal of this research is to demonstrate how a metaheuristic optimization algorithm, simulated annealing (SA; Kirkpatrick, Gelatt, & Vecchi, 1983), can be used to investigate sensitivity to external model misspecification (Kaplan, 1990) in structural equation modeling (SEM). The efficacy of the algorithm will be assessed through execution of a
sensitivity analysis on data in early childhood education.

Authors

• Charles Fisk, University of Maryland - College Park

• Jeff R. Harring, University of Maryland - College Park