Residual Centering, Exploratory and Confirmatory Moderator Analysis, and Decomposition of Effects in Path Models Containing Interactions

Hierarchical moderated regression (HMR) analysis may lead to interpretational problems in tests of mod erator (interaction) hypotheses. An alternative, resid ual-centering approach is described and compared to traditional HMR analysis. Procedures for evaluating in teraction hypotheses and general effect analysis proce dures are described for path (causal) models contain ing interactions. Index terms: Confirmatory analysis, Effect analysis in path models, Goodness-of- fit tests, Hierarchical moderated regression, Media tors, Moderated regression, Multicollinearity, Path models, Residual centering.