Mediating effect

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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EVAFAHR
PLS Junior User
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 8:38 pm
Real name and title: Eva Fahringer BA

Mediating effect

Post by EVAFAHR »

Hello everybody.

I want to calculate a model using SMART PLS 3 which has 4 independent variables one mediator and one dependent variable. My question is now if I can only calculate the mediation effect if I include a direct path between the four independent variables and the dependent variable or is it also possible to draw a conclusion if there is only a direct path between the independent variables and the mediator and the mediator and the dependent variable? As SmartPLS calculates also indirect effects I am not sure if this value can say whether this is a mediator or not.

Thanks you in advance for your help

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

Re: Mediating effect

Post by jmbecker »

If you want to test a typical mediation hypothesis it is common practice to also include the direct effect so that you know whether it is a direct or indirect effect that dominates and explains the "causal" pathway.
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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