Chapter 4: Structural Equation Models
Example 1 on Structural equation modelling: A model for one country
Fit the structural equation model shown in Figure 4.1, for ESS data on respondents from the United Kingdom only. Interpret the signs of the regression coefficients in the structural model. Are all of these coefficients significantly different from 0?


Figure 4.2 shows a path diagram of the structural model, with estimated values of the regression coefficients associated with each of the paths. All of the coefficients are significantly different from 0 (at the 5% level of significance), with the exception that the association between Moral alignment and Co-operatione is not significant in this model which also includes the other three factors as explanatory variables. With one exception the estimated regression coefficients are positive, indicating that higher levels of positive assessment of and co-operation with the police tend to go together. The exception is the coefficient of Effectiveness in the model for Co-operation; this is negative, indicating that individuals who feel that the police are effective in their work tend to be less likely to express willingness to co-operate with the police, at least after we control for the individuals’ assessment of Procedural fairness, Obligation to obey and Moral alignment with the police.