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Now, $X$ is my IV and $Z$ is the DV. In my analysis, I also have a mediating Variable $Y$. The significant $\beta$ while doing MRA between $X$ and $Z$ is -.85. Other conditions being satisfied, when I had MRA between $X$ and $Z$ with mediating variable $Y$, the sig. $\beta$ is -.32. Here if we do not consider the negative sign , only the magnitude of $\beta$ decreases from .85 to .32 and thus $Y$ partially mediates. But if we consider the negative sign -.32 is greater than -.85, and no mediation occurs. Some people are saying that in psychology, negative sign is only seen to find the direction of the relation and not the magnitude. Others are saying, we have to consider the magnitude with negative sign, which in case of mediation is giving a completely opposite answer. How should I interpret these results?

I did all my analysis in SPSS.

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    $\begingroup$ Have you considered replacing $Z$ by $-Z$? Or $X$ by $-X$? $\endgroup$
    – whuber ♦
    Commented Sep 9, 2011 at 17:40
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    $\begingroup$ Having gotten my PhD in psychometrics, I've been subject to what people in psychology say. Oy. In your example, partial mediation occurs. The sign of the regression coefficient is not important. You don't say what your variables are, and so it's hard to give specifics. $\endgroup$
    – Peter Flom
    Commented Sep 9, 2011 at 20:52

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If you are analyzing meditation effect, as per Baron & Kenny...all the relationship between X->Z ( Direct), Y->Z and X->Y should be positively related. In your case..If -.85 is direct relation...I can't accept X->Z relation for further mediation analysis.

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    $\begingroup$ 1) The Baron & Kenny paper is somewhat outdated, but mostly, 2) I doubt very much indeed that they say that all relationships need to be positive. $\endgroup$
    – Patrick Coulombe
    Commented Oct 5, 2014 at 5:45

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