FINDOUT: Using Either SPSS Commands or Graphical User Interface to Identify Influential Cases in Structural Equation...

Area of Science:

• Statistics
• Psychometrics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is widely used in various research fields.
• SEM results can be sensitive to influential cases, impacting findings' reliability.
• Existing tools for identifying influential cases are primarily available for R, not AMOS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the FINDOUT toolset for identifying influential cases in AMOS.
• To provide methods for examining the impact of influential cases on SEM results.
• To enhance the robustness checks available for AMOS users.

Main Methods:

• Development of the FINDOUT toolset, comprising SPSS extension commands and an AMOS plugin.
• SPSS commands can be executed via syntax or custom dialogs.
• The AMOS plugin is accessible through the AMOS software menu.

Main Results:

• The FINDOUT toolset enables the identification of influential cases within AMOS analyses.
• Researchers can utilize the toolset to assess how specific observations affect SEM outcomes.
• The tools offer a practical solution for AMOS users to investigate result sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• The FINDOUT toolset addresses a gap in available diagnostic tools for AMOS users.
• These tools empower researchers to better evaluate the robustness of their SEM findings.
• Adoption of FINDOUT can lead to more reliable and trustworthy research conclusions in SEM.