Structural equation modeling (SEM)
Research Methods
Definition. Structural equation modeling is a family of statistical methods that estimates relationships among latent constructs and their indicators within a single model.
Explanation
Covariance-based SEM and PLS-SEM differ in goals and assumptions, and a multimethod framework recommends combining approaches for rigour (Hair et al., 2026). Bibliometric work shows the rapid growth and thematic evolution of PLS-SEM research (Angelelli et al., 2025), including in quality management (Magno et al., 2024).
Related concepts
PLS-SEM Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) Mediation analysis Measurement invariance Common method bias
Read on The Health Topics
- When One Method Is Not Enough: The Multimethod SEM Framework for Rigorous Research
- Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Research
- PLS-SEM in Quality Management: Current Practices and Challenges
References
Angelelli, M., Ciavolino, E., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., & Aria, M. (2025). Conceptual structure and thematic evolution in partial least squares structural equation modeling research. Quality & Quantity. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02071-4
Hair, J. F., Sharma, P. N., Chin, W. W., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2026). A multimethod SEM framework for analyzing models with latent variables. Journal of Global Marketing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/08911762.2026.2638909
Magno, F., Cassia, F., & Ringle, C. M. (2024). A brief review of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) use in quality management studies. The TQM Journal, 36(5), 1242–1251. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-06-2022-0197
Cite this entry: Kurutkan, M. N. (2026). Structural equation modeling (SEM). In The Health Topics glossary. https://healthtopic.org/glossary/structural-equation-modeling/