Skip to main content
Log in

Fitting genetic models with LISREL: Hypothesis testing

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A brief introduction to the mathematical theory involved in model fitting is provided. The properties of maximum-likelihood estimates are described, and their advantages in fitting structural models are given. Identification of models is considered. Standard errors of parameter estimates are compared with the use of likelihood-ratio (L-R) statistics. For structural modeling, L-R tests are invariant to parameter transformation and give robust tests of significance. Some guidelines for fitting models to data collected from twins are given, with discussion of the relative merits of parsimony and data description.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Rererences

  • Akaike, H. (1970). Statistical predictor identification.Ann. Inst. Stat. Math. 21:243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akaike H. (1987). Factor analysis and AIC.Psychometrika 52:317–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1984).Theory and Implementation of EQS: A Structural Equations Program, BMD Statistical Software, Los Angeles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boomsma, D. I., van den Bree, M. B. M. Orlebeke, J. F., and Molenaar, P. C. M. (1989). Resemblance of parents and twins in sports participation and heart rate.Behav. Genet. 19:123–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W. (1984). Asymptotically distribution-free methods for the analysis of covariance structures.Br. J. Math. Stat. Psychol. 37:62–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli-Svorza, L. L., and Bodmer, W. F. (1971).The Genetics of Human Populations, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolan, C. V., Molenaar, P. C. M., and Boomsma, D. I. (1989). LISREL analysis of twin data with structured means.Behav. Genet. 19:51–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. W. F. (1972).Likelihood, Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R. A. (1920). A mathematical examination of the methods of determining the accuracy of an observation by the mean error, and by the mean square errorMonth. Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 80:758–770.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R. A. (1922). On the mathematical foundations of theoretical statistics,Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 222:309–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, A. C., Neale, M. C., Hewitt, J. K., Eaves, L. J., and Fulker, D. W. (1989). Testing structural equation models for twin data using LISREL.Behav. Genet. 19:9–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K. G., and Sörbom, D. (1986)LISREL: Analysis of Linear Structural Relationships by the Method of Maximum Likelihood, National Educational Resources, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, M., and Stuart A. (1977).The Advanced Theory of Statistics, Vol. 1, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., Balla, J. R., and McDonald, R. P. (1988). Goodness of fit indexes in confirmatory factor analysis: The effect of sample size.Psychol. Bull. 103:391–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardia, K. V., Kent, J. K., and Bibby, J. M. (1979).Multivariate Analysis, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. G., and Boomsma, D. I. (1989). Willingness to drive when drunk and personality: A twin study.Behav. Genet. 19:97–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. G., Eaves, L. J., and Fulker, D. W. (1979). The genetical relationship of impulsiveness and sensation seeking to Eysenck's personality dimensions.Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol. 28:197–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • McArdle, J. J. (1986). Latent variable growth within behavior genetic models.Behav. Genet. 16:163–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, B. (1988).LISCOMP: A Program for Advanced Research, Scientific Software, Mooresville, Ind.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neale, M. C., and Martin, N. G. (1989). The effects of age, sex, and genotype on self-report drunkenness following a challenge dose of alcohol.Behav. Genet. 19:63–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K., Fulker, D. W., and Rose, R. J. (1987). Path analysis of seven fear factors in adult twin and sibling pairs and their parents.Genet. Epidemiol. 4:345–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, L. R., and Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis.Psychometrika 38:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlietinck, R., Derom, R., Neale, M. C., Maes, H., van Loon, H., van Maele, G., Derom, C., and Thiery, M. (1989). Genetic and environmental variation in the birth weight of twins.Behav. Genet. 19:151–161.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The theoretical work and data analysis described in this paper were made possible by NATO Grant 86/0823 and grants from the Belgian National Research Fund, the State University of Gent, and the Catholic University of Leuven. We are also grateful to Drs. R. Vlietinck and R. Derom for excellent organization of the successful workshop. A.C.H., M.C.N., J.K.H., and L.J.E. were supported by NIH Grants MH-40828, AA-06781, GM-30250, AG-04954, and HL-31010. D.W.F. was supported by NIH Grants HD-19802 and HD-18426.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Neale, M.C., Heath, A.C., Hewitt, J.K. et al. Fitting genetic models with LISREL: Hypothesis testing. Behav Genet 19, 37–49 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065882

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065882

Key Words

Navigation