PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP IV: MODERN MEDIATION ANALYSIS

The goal of the workshop is to describe statistical, methodological, and conceptual aspects of mediation analysis. The one-day workshop consists of four parts. Part 1, covers definitions, history, and applications for the mediation model. The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the research questions the mediation model can answer. Examples from mediation analysis in prevention and treatment research are described.  In Part II, the conceptual model described in Part I is quantified in the estimation of mediation in single and multiple mediator models. Estimation of mediation effects including assumptions, statistical tests, confidence intervals, and effect size are covered. The methods described in this section serve as the foundation for more advanced methods in Part III consisting of mediation in path analysis, longitudinal mediation models, and mediation in the context of moderation. In Part IV, general practical and theoretical issues in the investigation of mediation are discussed including methods to adjust for confounders, causal inference, additional approaches to identifying mediating variables, and future directions.