Adding a control variable or moderating variable?
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 6:13 am
Dear Experts,
I have three IVs predicting one DV. One of the IVs did not predict DV. In my initial manuscript, I mentioned that possible reason accounting for the null finding could be the reason that the particular IV varies from one ethnic group to another ethnic group (ethnic difference). I did not hypothesize any ethnic influence in my study at all but only in the discussion section suggesting for future research possibility. And in my initial write-up, I gave the reason that our ethnic group has disproportionate size(some ethnic size big some small) and my research focus is not on any ethnic difference hence I did not study ethnic in my analysis.
The reviewer came back and provided this comment:
- the authors identified ethnic as a potential confounding variable-has the authors taken this into consideration in their analyses(e. g., covariate), especially since data on ethnic composition are available?
1. I am not sure what the reviewer wants but I am thinking they may need to rerun my analysis?
2. Do I need to add a control variable (ethnicity) in my smartPLS model based on the reviewer's comment.
3. And if so, I am not sure how to do it. I have already created the dummy variables via SmartPLS and four ethnic groups have been created. I have asked Prof. Gaskin about this he suggested me to add a "control" variable pointing to the variable which is being affected. Is this enough? and if Yes, shall I re-run my measurement model and structural model assessment? I have found weird figures for the measurement model criteria (ethnicity- Cronbach's Alpha -24.xxx, Composite 0.041) and VIF (Chinese, Malay and Indian) also. And if this is correct, how do we determine whether there is any effect of ethnicity? or self-esteem?
I have also asked another professor and he suggested me to conduct moderation as commented below:
I think since you mentioned about the ethnicity difference and the reviewer has suggested you to consider the confluence of ethnicity on the relationships, you need to analyse the moderating effect of ethnicity on the three relationships in your model (present the moderating effect of ethnicity on each relationship in the structural model). If there is no effect, then ethnicity is no the reason for the insignificant relationship. If yes, then just add this results to you manuscript to answer the reviewer's suggestion, it would add some value to you manuscript.
I would appreciate it if you could provide me some insights on what should I do at this stage.
I have three IVs predicting one DV. One of the IVs did not predict DV. In my initial manuscript, I mentioned that possible reason accounting for the null finding could be the reason that the particular IV varies from one ethnic group to another ethnic group (ethnic difference). I did not hypothesize any ethnic influence in my study at all but only in the discussion section suggesting for future research possibility. And in my initial write-up, I gave the reason that our ethnic group has disproportionate size(some ethnic size big some small) and my research focus is not on any ethnic difference hence I did not study ethnic in my analysis.
The reviewer came back and provided this comment:
- the authors identified ethnic as a potential confounding variable-has the authors taken this into consideration in their analyses(e. g., covariate), especially since data on ethnic composition are available?
1. I am not sure what the reviewer wants but I am thinking they may need to rerun my analysis?
2. Do I need to add a control variable (ethnicity) in my smartPLS model based on the reviewer's comment.
3. And if so, I am not sure how to do it. I have already created the dummy variables via SmartPLS and four ethnic groups have been created. I have asked Prof. Gaskin about this he suggested me to add a "control" variable pointing to the variable which is being affected. Is this enough? and if Yes, shall I re-run my measurement model and structural model assessment? I have found weird figures for the measurement model criteria (ethnicity- Cronbach's Alpha -24.xxx, Composite 0.041) and VIF (Chinese, Malay and Indian) also. And if this is correct, how do we determine whether there is any effect of ethnicity? or self-esteem?
I have also asked another professor and he suggested me to conduct moderation as commented below:
I think since you mentioned about the ethnicity difference and the reviewer has suggested you to consider the confluence of ethnicity on the relationships, you need to analyse the moderating effect of ethnicity on the three relationships in your model (present the moderating effect of ethnicity on each relationship in the structural model). If there is no effect, then ethnicity is no the reason for the insignificant relationship. If yes, then just add this results to you manuscript to answer the reviewer's suggestion, it would add some value to you manuscript.
I would appreciate it if you could provide me some insights on what should I do at this stage.