Moderated mediation, segmentation delta method, J-curve emergence, and causality assessment: Article

The article below discusses moderated mediation and the related emergence of J-curve relationships, in a context that is relevant to researchers employing structural equation modeling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM).

The article lays out three steps to combine moderation and J-curve analyses, with the goal of more fully understanding the underlying moderated mediation relationships. It proposes a new segmentation delta method to test for J-curve emergence, as part of this framework.

Finally, the article discusses three causality assessment indices that are used to show that the model used in the article is generally sound in terms of causality.

Kock, N. (2021). Moderated mediation and J-curve emergence in path models: An information systems research perspective. Journal of Systems and Information Technology, 23(3), 303-321.

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Abstract (structured):

Purpose. J-curve relationship analyses can provide valuable insights to information systems (IS) researchers. We discuss moderated mediation in IS research and the related emergence of J-curve relationships. Design/methodology/approach. Building on an illustrative study in the field of IS, we lay out three steps to combine moderation and J-curve analyses, with the goal of more fully understanding the underlying moderated mediation relationships. We propose a new segmentation delta method to test for J-curve emergence, as part of this framework. Findings. We show, in the context of this study, the complementarity of moderation and J-curve analyses. Research limitations/implications. Currently, IS researchers rarely conduct moderation and J-curve analyses in a complementary way, even though there are software tools, and related methods, which allow them to do so in a relatively straightforward way. Originality/value. Our analyses were conducted with the software WarpPLS, a widely used tool that allows for moderated mediation and J-curve analyses, in a way that is fully compatible with the set of steps presented in this paper.

Best regards to all!