Mediation and Moderation Analysis Using R

This one-day course introduces the concepts and techniques of moderation and mediation analysis using R, with a focus on social science applications. Participants will learn how to test for interaction effects (moderation) using regression models, conduct mediation analysis using structural equation modelling and combine both approaches to explore mediated moderation. Emphasis is placed on interpretation, visualization, and reproducible R workflows using real-world data examples.

The course covers:

• A brief refresher on linear regression in R
• Moderation analysis using interaction terms in regression
• Probing and visualizing interaction effects
• Mediation analysis using path models
• Estimating indirect effects
• Mediated moderation
• Applied examples in social sciences
• Practical coding sessions using real datasets in R

By the end of the course participants will:

• Understand the conceptual foundations of moderation and mediation
• Conduct moderation analysis using interaction terms in R
• Interpret and visualize interaction effects
• Specify and estimate mediation models using path analysis
• Test indirect effects and interpret mediation results
• Use SEM to explore differences in mediation across groups
• Apply techniques to real-world social science datasets

The course includes hands-on computer workshops. Participants will use the R programming language.