A Finite Mixture Multilevel Structural Equation Model for Unobserved Heterogeneity in Random Variability

• In Event: Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling in Educational Research

Abstract

Studying intraindividual variability (e.g., consistency across repeated measurements) or intragroup variability (e.g., cohesiveness among members within a team) is at the core of many important research questions. Despite the recent methodological progress in modeling random variability, a huge challenge remains when it comes to modeling unobserved sub-populations that differ in intraindividual variability or intragroup variability, or sub-populations that differ in the various processes and mechanisms involving intraindividual variability or intragroup variability. The current study aims to fill this gap by developing a finite-mixture multilevel SEM for modeling unobserved heterogeneity in random variability (MMSEM-RV). The theoretical framework of MMSEM-RV is introduced, and the performance of the proposed modeling framework is systematic evaluated via Monte Carlo simulation under varying conditions.

Author

• Yi Feng, University of California - Los Angeles