library(modsem)As of yet, the modsem package does not support using the interaction operator : between two higher order constructs. However, you can still attempt to estimate the interaction effect between two higher order constructs by specifying the interaction term in models using the product indicator approaches (higher order constructs are not supported at all in the lms and qml approaches yet). The modsem package will then attempt to estimate the interaction effect between the two higher order constructs.
WARNING: Please note that the literature on higher order interactions in product indicator approaches is virtually non-existant, and you will likely need to experiment with different approaches to find one that works. As well as experiment with adding constraints to the model.
In modsem there are two datasets which are variants of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) dataset. The TPB_2SO contains two second order constructs, INT (intention) which is a second order construct of ATT (attitude) and SN (subjective norm), and PBC (perceived behavioural control) which is a second order construct of PC (perceived control) and PB (perceived behaviour).
tpb <- '
# First order constructs
ATT =~ att1 + att2 + att3
SN =~ sn1 + sn2 + sn3
PB =~ pb1 + pb2 + pb3
PC =~ pc1 + pc2 + pc3
BEH =~ b1 + b2
# Higher order constructs
INT =~ ATT + SN
PBC =~ PC + PB
# Higher order interaction
INTxPBC =~ ATT:PC + ATT:PB + SN:PC + SN:PB
# Structural model
BEH ~ PBC + INT + INTxPBC
'
est_ca <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_2SO, method = "ca")
summary(est_ca)
est_dblcent <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_2SO, method = "dblcent")
summary(est_dblcent)In the TPB_1SO dataset, the INT construct is a second order construct of ATT, SN and PBC. In this example, we will estimate the interaction between the INT (higher order construct) and PBC (first order construct).
tpb <- '
# First order constructs
ATT =~ att1 + att2 + att3
SN =~ sn1 + sn2 + sn3
PBC =~ pbc1 + pbc2 + pbc3
BEH =~ b1 + b2
# Higher order constructs
INT =~ ATT + PBC + SN
# Higher order interaction
INTxPBC =~ ATT:PBC + SN:PBC + PBC:PBC
# Structural model
BEH ~ PBC + INT + INTxPBC
'
est_ca <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_1SO, method = "ca")
summary(est_ca)
est_dblcent <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_1SO, method = "dblcent")
summary(est_dblcent)