Dear Shanna-

1)  Is the path model recursive (i.e., dependent variables in one equation of a
system of equations appear only as independent variables in subsequent
equations in the system) or not and 2) does it includes latent variables?

If recursive without latent variables, you could estimate each equation in the
system separately using any package.  If it is non-recursive and with latent
variables, the freeware package LEM handles LISREL and modified LISREL models
(i.e., structural models with categorical latent variables) that use link
functions other than the identity function, including logit and probit links,
within the GLM framework.  I believe the LISREL package also accomodates logit
and probit links.

You can get LEM here:

http://www.uvt.nl/faculteiten/fsw/organisatie/departementen/mto/software2.html

Hope this helps,
David

Mensaje citado por Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz <[log in to unmask]>:

> I am working on a paper in which the fundamental argument can only
> really be expressed through a path model.  Unfortunately, one of my
> endogenous
> variables is dichotomous.  While the ultimate dependent variable is
> interval, I know that having a non-linear dependent variable in a path
> model is less than ideal.  (I am using Amos which uses FIML and while
> not
> OLS, FIML still assumes a linear relationship.)  Does anyone know of a
> way
> of taking care of the likely non-linearity that comes with a
> dichotomous
> dependent variable? If not, does anyone have any suggestions about what
> is the best thing
> to do (for example, should I just give up or should I just estimate it
> as a linear model and
> acknowledge the problems?)?
>
> I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions.  Thanks so much.
>
> Shanna Peason-Merkowitz
> University of Maryland
> Department of Government and Politics
>
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