A comparison of methods to test for mediation in multisite experiments

Keenan A. Pituch, Tiffany A. Whittaker, Laura M. Stapleton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

A Monte Carlo study extended the research of MacKinnon, Lockwood, Huffman, West, and Sheets (2002) for single-level designs by examining the statistical performance of four methods to test for mediation in a multilevel experimental design. The design studied was a two-group experiment that was replicated across several sites, included a single intervening variable and outcome, and assumed that the effects of the treatment and mediator were constant across sites. The findings provide new evidence of the benefits of and further support for using the asymmetric confidence limits approach to test for mediation. In addition, the authors provide further support for using confidence intervals to assess if treatment effects are completely mediated, as using traditional hypothesis testing may lead to erroneous conclusions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-23
Number of pages23
JournalMultivariate Behavioral Research
Volume40
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistics and Probability
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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