Correlation-Preserving Mean Plausible Values as a Basis for Prediction in the Context of Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

Mean plausible values can be computed when Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM) is performed. As mean plausible values do not preserve the factor inter-correlations, they yield path coefficients that are different from the estimated path coefficients of the model. As it might be of interest to perform exactly the same predictions on the level of mean plausible values that have been estimated by BSEM, correlation-preserving mean plausible values were proposed. An example for the computation of the correlation preserving mean plausible values is given and the corresponding syntax can be found in the Appendix.