Elements of Structural Equation Models (SEMs)

Elements of Structural Equation Models (SEMs) blends theoretical foundations with practical applications, serving as both a learning tool and a lasting reference. Synthesizing material from diverse sources, including the author’s own contributions, it provides a rigorous yet accessible guide for graduate students, faculty, and researchers across social, behavioral, health, and data sciences. The book covers essential SEM concepts – model assumptions, identification, estimation, and diagnostics – while also addressing advanced topics often overlooked, such as Bayesian SEMs, model-implied instrumental variables, and categorical variables. Readers will gain insights into missing data, longitudinal models, and comparisons with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs). By presenting complex technical content in a clear, structured way, this authoritative resource deepens readers’ understanding of SEMs, making it an indispensable guide for both newcomers and experts seeking a definitive treatment of the field.

Author Biography

Kenneth A. Bollen is the Henry Rudolph Immerwahr Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience and Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a leading expert in structural equation models and author of Structural Equations with Latent Variables (1989). Kenneth’s pioneering work has earning him many prestigious awards including the Psychometric Society’s Career Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Lazarsfeld Award for Distinguished Contributions to Sociological Methodology, and the Sells Award for Distinguished Multivariate Research.