On the explaining‐away phenomenon in multivariate latent variable models. (2nd December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Rijn, Peter; Rijmen, Frank
• Is Part Of: British journal of mathematical & statistical psychology. Volume 68:Part 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2014-12-02
• Subjects: Psychometrics -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Statistical methods -- Periodicals; 150.727
• DOI: 10.1111/bmsp.12046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1102

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bmsp12046-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Many probabilistic models for psychological and educational measurements contain latent variables. Well‐known examples are factor analysis, item response theory, and latent class model families. We discuss what is referred to as the 'explaining‐away' phenomenon in the context of such latent variable models. This phenomenon can occur when multiple latent variables are related to the same observed variable, and can elicit seemingly counterintuitive conditional dependencies between latent variables given observed variables. We illustrate the implications of explaining away for a number of well‐known latent variable models by using both theoretical and real data examples.</p> </abstract>