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Clarifying conditions and decision points for mediational type inferences in Organizational Behavior
Abstract
Although mediational designs and analyses are quite popular in Organizational Behavior research, there is much confusion surrounding the basis of causal inferences. We review theoretical, research design, and construct validity issues that are important for drawing inferences from mediational analyses. We then distinguish between indirect effects, and partial and full mediational hypotheses and outline decision points for drawing inferences of each type. An empirical illustration is provided using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, and we discuss extensions and directions for future research. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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“The use of one data collection point, which the change scores function as, means that causality cannot be asserted (Kazdin, 2007; Mathieu & Taylor, 2006).”
From Testing Mindfulness Mechanisms of Action on the Stress and Burnout of Social Workers (2024) · cites this paper as Mathieu & Taylor, 2006
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Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical Mediation Analysis in the New Millennium
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“Recent treatments of the analysis of moderated mediation models focus on the estimation of interactions between the moderator and the pathways that define the indirect effect (Edwards & Lambert, 2007; Muller et al., 2005; Preacher, Rucker, & Hayes, 2007). Preacher et al.’s approach (2007) emphasizes the estimation of…”
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Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Mathieu, J. E., & Taylor, S. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mathieu, John E.
- Venue
- Journal of Organizational Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-09-07
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1031-1056
- ISSN
- 0894-3796 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1379
- OpenAlex
- W2127597797
- Cited by
- 961
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 65 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 82 · 2012: 63
- FWCI
- 19.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Organizational Behavior (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Old Dominion University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- mediation analysis, causal inference, indirect effects, partial mediation, construct validity, research design, structural equation modeling, organizational behavior
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