Tests of the three-path mediated effect

Aaron B. Taylor, David Mackinnon, Jenn-Yun Tein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

870 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a three-path mediational model, two mediators intervene in a series between an independent and a dependent variable. Methods of testing for mediation in such a model are generalized from the more often used single-mediator model. Six such methods are introduced and compared in a Monte Carlo study in terms of their Type I error, power, and coverage. Based on its results, the joint significance test is preferred when only a hypothesis test is of interest. The percentile bootstrap and bias-corrected bootstrap are preferred when a confidence interval on the mediated effect is desired, with the latter having more power but also slightly inflated Type I error in some conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)241-269
Number of pages29
JournalOrganizational Research Methods
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Bootstrapping
  • Mediation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Decision Sciences
  • Strategy and Management
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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