A general method for analysis of covariance structures

Abstract

It is assumed that observations on a set of variables have a multivariate normal distribution with a general parametric form of the mean vector and the variance-covariance matrix. Any parameter of the model may be fixed, free or constrained to be equal to other parameters. The free and constrained parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood. A wide range of models is obtained from the general model by imposing various specifications on the parametric structure of the general model. Examples are given of areas and problems, especially in the behavioural sciences, where the method may be useful.