Veranstaltungen 
CO:STA-Sessions
The Colloquium for Statistical Analyses [CO:STA] is an informal forum to discuss quantitative methods that we apply in our research. CO:STA presents an opportunity for researchers of all levels to present their work in progress with special emphasis of methodological issues, or to simply visit the colloquium and learn about new methods and alternative strategies to answer pressing questions. Reflecting the set-up of the WZB, particular applications include examples from political science, economics and sociology. The colloquium is open to all WZB researchers as well as to external guests. Our newsletter informs about upcoming sessions.
If you wish to present and discuss your research at CO:STA, if you have suggestions for interesting topics that should be covered, or if you wish to be registered for the newsletter – feel free to drop an e-mail to the CO:STA team!
Confirmatory factor analysis and the necessity of measurement invariance in group comparisons
Zsófia Ignácz (HU-Berlin)
Often social science researchers deal with concepts and phenomena that are latent constructs and cannot be observed directly. Examples include prejudices, skills, fears, or all kinds of attitudes in general. As an attempt to measure the unobservables, researchers use various indicators and survey items, which they see as representing the original latent construct. These items can be aggregated by several methods in order to estimate the latent constructs.
Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is one of the most sophisticated methods to estimate latent constructs. CFA assumes that the measured variables (items or indicators) are linear, additive functions of the unobserved (latent) factors and assumes a certain structure of the measurement model. This way, complex structures can be measured, such as the latent construct intelligence that itself consists of a couple of a couple of latent (mathematical, linguistic, musical) intelligences. However, comparing the latent constructs of different groups can be challenging. This is particularly the case for international comparisons that receive growing attention these days. The multi-group multiple indicator model offers a systematic measurement tool to tackle such problems.
Ressources:
Multiple Correspondence Analysis: a multidimensional and relational technique
Celine Teney (WZB)
more
Multi-level modelling vs. cluster-robust standard errors: Same same, but different?
Merlin Schaeffer (WZB)
more
Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM): a new technique for statistical matching
Jan Paul Heisig und Martin Ehlert (WZB)
more
The Use and Non-use of Experiments in the Social Sciences
Marc Keuschnigg (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
more
Causal Inference
Joscha Legewie (Columbia University)
more
Categorization and Selection Bias in the Study of Ethnic Groups
Oliver Strijbis (University of St. Gallen)
more
Poverty trajectories after risky life events in different European welfare states [Latent Class Analysis]
Leen Vandecasteele (University of Manchester)
more
Bringing Geography in. The Group Threat Hypothesis Revisited with Geographically Weighted Regression. Analysis of the 2009 NPD Electoral Results in Germany
Celine Teney (WZB)
more
Description and Comparison in Models of Ecucational Attainment and Educational Careers [Comparing Logit Coefficients]
Richard Breen (Yale University)
more
Promoting Self-employment among the Unemployed. A statistical evaluation of qualification and coaching in Germany [Matching]
Dirk Oberschachtsiek (WZB)
more
Assessing a model of micro-integration using seconded national experts in the European Commission [QCA]
Benny Geys (WZB)
more
Probleme und Fallen von Logit-Modellen: Beispielhafte Verdeutlichungen anhand von Simulationen
Johannes Giesecke (WZB)
more
Kleine Theorie der Wahrnehmung statistischer Graphiken
Ulrich Kohler (WZB)
more
