Description
It is an honor to present the fourth edition of this book. Like the previous editions, this one introduces structural equation modeling (SEM) in a clear, accessible way for readers without strong quantitative backgrounds. New examples of the application of SEM are included in this edition, and all the examples cover a wide range of disciplines, including education, psychometrics, human resources, and psychology, among others. Some examples were selected owing to technical problems in the analysis, but such examples give a context for discussing how to handle problems that can crop up in SEM. So not all applications of SEM described in this book are picture perfect, but neither are actual research problems.
The many changes in this edition are intended to enhance the pedagogical presentation and cover recent developments. The biggest changes are as follows.
1. This is one of the first introductory books to introduce Judea Pearl’s structural causal model (SCM), an approach that offers unique perspectives on causal modeling. It is also part of new developments in causal mediation analysis.
2. Computer files for all detailed examples are now available for a total of six widely used SEM computer tools, including Amos, EQS, lavaan for R, LISREL, Mplus, and Stata. Computer tools for the SCM are also described.
3. Presentations on model specification, identification, and estimation are reorganized to separate coverage of observed variable (path) models from that of latent variable models. The specification and identification of path models are covered before these topics are dealt with for latent variable models. Later chapters that introduce estimation and hypothesis testing do not assume knowledge of latent variable models. This organization makes it easier for instructors who prefer to cover the specification, identification, and analysis of path models before doing so for latent variable models.
4. Two changes concern the technique of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The analysis of ordinal data in CFA is covered in more detail with two new examples, one of which concerns the topic of measurement invariance. The topic just mentioned is now covered in its own chapter in this edition.