New Developments in PLS Path Modeling: Advanced Course

In the last five years, PLS path modeling has undergone substantial changes and new developments, partly as a response to critique formulated by Rönkkö, Antonakis, and others. This course provides an update on PLS and composite-based structural equation modeling, and it offers the room for exchanging experiences, asking questions, and critical reflection. It covers the following issues in PLS path modeling and structural equation modeling in general:

• What is my research question? Distinguishing between behavioral and design research. 
• Structural and auxiliary theory: Concepts, constructs, proxies, observable variables, and their relationships.
• What is a model? Factor models vs. composite models, model identification
• Choosing the method of analysis: CBSEM, PLS, linear regression analysis, ... What about the methods' assumptions?
• PLS critiques (e.g., by Rönkkö, Goodhue, Antonakis): Where do they have a point? What if reviewers or editors do not like PLS?
• Why should I be wary of literature that uses the term "PLS-SEM"?
• The concept of fit: What can it mean for us? How can it be operationalized? 
• Multi group analysis
• Modeling nonlinear effects
• Software tutorial with ADANCO & the cSEM package: flexible tools for PLS and composite-based SEM

Participants will receive a complimentary one-year fully functional version of ADANCO 2.1.

This course is designed for practitioners, faculty, and students who have already experience in using or instructing PLS path modeling.