Testing moderation with higher order constructs

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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arjunchk
PLS Junior User
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2018 6:47 am
Real name and title: Mr. Arjun Chakravorty

Testing moderation with higher order constructs

Post by arjunchk »

Hi,

I am testing moderation where the independent variable(IV), moderating variable(M) and dependent variable (DV) are higher order constructs. The IV is formative-formative construct and the M is reflective-reflective construct and the DV is reflective-reflective construct. Can someone please explain how to test moderation in such a scenario. I have read about 2 stage process and feel might be the right approach but it will be great if someone can explain the step wise process or point towards literature that explains the entire process.

Thanks,
Arjun
jmbecker
SmartPLS Developer
Posts: 1282
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:09 am
Real name and title: Dr. Jan-Michael Becker

Re: Testing moderation with higher order constructs

Post by jmbecker »

As far as I know there is no literature on using higher-order components in moderation analysis. We covered this topic briefly in the future research section of our LRP paper (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.), but and I'm not aware of a study that has actually looked at these problems.

I would say that it would make sense to combine the two two-stage approaches into basically a three stage approach or use the two-stage moderator approach with a repeated indicator higher-order construct. Both should work ok (without having data to back this up).
I would not use the orthogonalizing or product-indicator approach with higher-order components, especilly if you use repeated-indicators. That would like mess things up (but I might be wrong). In addition, most current recommendations anyway suggest to use only the two-stage moderator approach (Becker, J. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2018). Estimating Moderating Effects in PLS-SEM and PLSc-SEM: Interaction Term Generation* Data Treatment. Journal of Applied Structural Equation Modeling, 2, 1-21.)
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
arjunchk
PLS Junior User
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2018 6:47 am
Real name and title: Mr. Arjun Chakravorty

Re: Testing moderation with higher order constructs

Post by arjunchk »

Thank you so much for clarifying. Can I also request you to suggest on how to report moderation in such cases?
jmbecker
SmartPLS Developer
Posts: 1282
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:09 am
Real name and title: Dr. Jan-Michael Becker

Re: Testing moderation with higher order constructs

Post by jmbecker »

In just the normal way.
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
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