Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Questions about the implementation and application of the PLS-SEM method, that are not related to the usage of the SmartPLS software.
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Boddien
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Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by Boddien »

Dear forum,

I have a question regarding the specific level of complexity that means the max. number of arrows pointed at a construct in a PLS path model where HCMs are used (see attachment).

If I look at HOC_E (because this is in my opinion the part of the model with the largest number of predictors) I would say that 10 arrows from the following predictors are pointing at it:
1.SOC_E
2. LOC1_E
3. LOC2_E
4. LOC3_E
5. LOC4_E
6. LOC5_E
7. LOC6_E
8. LOC7_E
9. LOC8_E
10. HOC_P

Or am I wrong because I have to consider all the predictors of the LOC_s (1-8) and the HOC_P, too?

Thank you very much in advance.

Best regards,
S. Boddien
Attachments
PLS path model including HCMs.png
PLS path model including HCMs.png (123.15 KiB) Viewed 8947 times
jmbecker
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by jmbecker »

Well, yes based on the structural model that you show 10 is the largest number of predictors that point to a construct (HOC_e). However, if you model the HOC with the repeated indicator approach (which seems to be the case in your model) and you have a formative HOC and use Mode B to with the repeated indicators of this HOC you might have more arrows pointing to the HOC in the measurement model. For example, if you have 22 repeated indicators 22 would be the largest number of arrows pointing to a construct.
Nevertheless, this rule of thumb thing with counting the arrows is nowadays usually also discouraged and a power analysis is the better option to determine the sample size. But if gives you an impression of your minimum sample size. However, sample size requirements might be much larger.
Dr. Jan-Michael Becker, BI Norwegian Business School, SmartPLS Developer
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Michael_Becker
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Boddien
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by Boddien »

Thank you very much for your reply.

I want to use in the first stage the repeated indicators approach to obtain the LOC´s scores which will serve in the second stage as manifest variables in the HOC´s measurement model (two-stage approach).

Do I need to consider now all the repeated indicators of the first stage (3 x 8 = 24 repeated indicators + 2 = 26) or only the LOCs indicators of the second stage (8 + 2 = 10)?

Thank you once again for clearifying!
jmbecker
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by jmbecker »

I would not use the repeated indicator approach in the first-stage if you want to do a two-stage approach. Either do a repeated indicator approach or a two-stage approach where you use a direct effects model in the first stage (as described in Becker, J.-M., Klein, K., & Wetzels, M. (2012). Hierarchical latent variable models in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using reflective-formative type models. Long Range Planning, 45(5-6), 359-394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2012.10.001), where you connect your lower-order constructs directly with your other constructs. Such an approach is much more robust and gives better results than a repeated indicator approach in the first round.
Dr. Jan-Michael Becker, BI Norwegian Business School, SmartPLS Developer
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Michael_Becker
GoogleScholar: http://scholar.google.de/citations?user ... AAAJ&hl=de
Boddien
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by Boddien »

Thank you for your kind advice. Just to reconfirm if I have understood it correctly:

So I would have in the first stage my direct effect model (without the HOCs) but only the LOCs connecting directly with the other constructs.

Then I would have to run the PLS algorithm and evaluate the results of the reflective LOCs (internal consistency reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity) and of the formative LOCs (convergent validity, collinearity issues and significance/relevance of the formative indicators).

After that I would have to create the more parsimonious model of the second stage with the HOCs. As their indicators I would use then the latent variable scores of the LOCs of the direct effect model of the first stage.

Again I would run the PLS algorithm and evaluate the results of the two exogenous reflective latent constructs (internal consistency reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity) and of the 3 formative HOCs (convergent validity, collinearity issues and signifigance and relevance of the formative indicators).

Last but not least I would have to do the general evaluation of the structural model of the second stage (collinearity issues, R2, f2, Q2 etc.)

Is this how you meant it?
jmbecker
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by jmbecker »

Yes.
Dr. Jan-Michael Becker, BI Norwegian Business School, SmartPLS Developer
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Michael_Becker
GoogleScholar: http://scholar.google.de/citations?user ... AAAJ&hl=de
Boddien
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Re: Specific level of complexity of HCMs / number of predictors

Post by Boddien »

Great! Thank you so much, Dr. Becker!
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