Citation
Mize, Trenton D (2019). Best practices for estimating, interpreting, and presenting nonlinear interaction effects.
Sociological Science. vol. 6 pp. 81-117
Abstract
Many effects of interest to sociologists are nonlinear. Additionally, many effects of interest are interaction effects—that is, the effect of one independent variable is contingent on the level of another independent variable. The proper way to estimate, interpret, and present these two types of effects individually are well known. However, many analyses that combine these two—that is, tests of interaction when the effects of interest are nonlinear—are not properly interpreted or tested. The consequences of approaching nonlinear interaction effects the way one would approach a linear interaction effect are severe and can often result in incorrect conclusions. I cover both nonlinear effects in the context of linear regression, and—most thoroughly—nonlinear effects in models for categorical outcomes (focusing on binary logit/probit). My goal in this article is to synthesize an evolving methodological literature and to provide straightforward advice and techniques to estimate,interpret, and present nonlinear interaction effects.
URL
https://doi.org/10.15195/v6.a4Keyword(s)
interaction effects
Reference Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
Sociological Science
Author(s)
Mize, Trenton D
Year Published
2019
Volume Number
6
Pages
81-117
ISSN/ISBN
2330-6696
DOI
10.15195/v6.a4
Reference ID
9569
