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May 15th 2019: Polynomial regression workshop by Jeff Edwards*

 

Alternatives to Difference Scores: Polynomial Regression and Response Surface Methodology

 

Difference scores have been widely used in leadership research that addresses the concept of congruence, such as the comparison of actual and ideal leader behavior, the study of leader-follower dyads in terms of goal alignment, perceptual agreement, and LMX, and the contingency between leader behavior and situational requirements.  Despite their widespread use, difference scores have numerous methodological problems. These problems can be overcome by using polynomial regression and response surface methodology, which can examine a wide range of congruence hypotheses. This workshop will review problems with difference scores, present polynomial regression and response surface methodology, and illustrate the application of these methods using empirical examples.  Participants will be provided data to analyze during the class with the goal of creating a hands-on experience that will clarify and reinforce the methods discussed.  Participants should bring a laptop with either SPSS or STATA installed and should familiarize themselves with Edwards (2002), which provides an overview of the methods we will discuss.

 

The files for conducting the analyses we will perform in the workshop can be accessed here:

 

http://public.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/faculty/edwardsj/downloads.htm

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Please download the zip file at the link “Files for seminar on polynomial regression and response surface methodology.”  You should save the zip file to a folder on your laptop and extract the files.  We will use a subset of these files for our workshop.  I also suggest you download MYSTAT from my website, which you can use to plot three-dimensional surfaces.

 

The Edwards (2002) chapter can be obtained here:

 http://public.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/faculty/edwardsj/publications.htm

 

 

* The workshop is optional and its cost is 50 euros per participant. You will have the opportunity to register through the registration form

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