Evaluating causal models: An application of maximum-likelihood analysis of structural equations

Describes how causal modeling techniques can be improved through the use of maximum-likelihood analysis of structural equations. Within the context of scholastic achievement, the logic of applying this approach to causal modeling studies is presented, and the advantages of such an approach are elaborated. As a demonstration, a computer program called Linear Structural Relations, appropriate for causal modeling techniques, is used to analyze data that explore hypothesized causal relations between peer acceptance and classroom achievement. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).