ML and WLSMV estimation with categori... PreviousNext
Mplus Discussion > Categorical Data Modeling >
Message/Author
 Keith Widaman posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 - 5:14 pm
A colleague used ML with a path model with 5 MVs, 2 of which were categorical. WLSMV is preferred for such models. Sample size was large (1198).

Under ML:

DEMENTIA ON
AGED 0.048 0.010 4.643
NP 0.812 0.086 9.488
TDP 0.388 0.084 4.618
HS 1.038 0.280 3.714

Under MLR:

DEMENTIA ON
AGED 0.048 0.010 4.773
NP 0.812 0.084 9.704
TDP 0.388 0.085 4.575
HS 1.038 0.282 3.685

Under WLSMV:

DEMENTIA ON
AGED 0.025 0.007 3.299
NP 0.518 0.057 9.166
TDP 0.037 0.075 0.489
HS 0.431 0.088 4.903

So, under ML, MLR, and WLSMV, AGED, NP, and HS had effects with similar z ratios.

But, the effect of TDP on DEMENTIA differed tremendously. Under ML and MLR, TDP had a robust direct effect with z around 4.60 and p < .0001. Under WLSMV estimation, TDP had a direct effect with z of 0.49 and p = .625, so not close to significance.

Any ideas about why results for the direct effect of TDP varied so much across ML, MLR versus WLSMV?
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 - 4:07 pm
Hard to say without seeing the full output (send to Support). Perhaps TDP was binary and perhaps it was declared as categorical in which case ML(R) uses the observed TDP version as the predictor whereas WLSMV uses the latent continuous response variable behind the observed.
 Aurelie Lange posted on Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 1:58 pm
Dear Dr Muthen,

I have a similar question. I have a binary outcome, which is specified as categorical in the inputfile. However, using MLR or WLSMV produces very different results. I am using multiply imputed data so the difference could not be lying in the fact that MLR and WLSMV handle missing data differently.

How can I decide which estimator I should be using?
I am running a twolevel regession with only two predictors.

Kind regards,
Aurelie
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 3:17 pm
Can't really say without seeing the two full outputs and thereby see the specifics. But see the FAQ:

Estimator choices with categorical outcomes
Back to top
Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: