6# freetest thank you! but the interaction effect you mentioned should not be equal to the mediating effect! in fact, moderating effect is one type of interaction effect, which suggects how much effect the independent variable has on dependent varialbe relys on the third variable (the moderating variable). It should be mentioned that moderating effect has its direction, however, the pure interaction effect has not. Further, we should differ the mediating effect from moderating effect. Note that a mediational model is a causal model. For example, independent variable (A) has an impact on the dependent variable (C) through the mediating role of B. In a word, the mediator (B) can deliver the impact that independent variable (A) offered to the dependent varialbe (C). The path should be "A---->B----->C". however, a moderator variable M is a variable that alters the strength of the causal relationship. So for instance, psychotherapy may reduce depression more for men than for women, and so we would say that gender (M) moderates the causal effect of psychotherapy (X) on depression (Y). The path should be "X*M--->Y" anyway, thank you for you reply!
|