Structural equation modeling made easy: A tutorial based on a behavioral study of communication in virtual teams using WarpPLS 1.0

Structural equation modeling is a multivariate data analysis technique that allows researchers to concurrently analyze multiple relationships among manifest and latent variables. Two main approaches to SEM exist: covariance-based and variance-based. Variance-based SEM has been gaining attention in the past few years due to its flexibility. Among other features, it performs well under deviations of multivariate normality, and generally requires smaller sample sizes than covariance-based SEM. This tutorial will discuss variance-based SEM in the context of a behavioral study of communication in virtual teams. The software used in the tutorial will be WarpPLS 1.0, developed by the presenter and available at warppls.com. WarpPLS 1.0 is an easy-to-use variance-based SEM software that allows for the modeling of direct, mediating, and moderating effects among latent variables.