Methodological Research on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM): An Analysis Based on Social Network Approaches

Internet Research (2019)

Posted: 6 Jun 2019

See all articles by Marko Sarstedt

Marko Sarstedt

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; University of Newcastle (Australia)

Joseph F. Hair

Kennesaw State University

Christian M. Ringle

Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)

Date Written: 2019

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the knowledge infrastructure of methodological research on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) from a network point of view. The analysis involves the structures of authors, institutions, countries and co-citation networks, and discloses trending developments in the field.

Design/methodology/approach – Based on bibliometric data downloaded from the Web of Science, the authors apply various social network analysis (SNA) and visualization tools to examine the structure of knowledge networks of the PLS-SEM domain. Specifically, the authors investigate the PLS-SEM knowledge network by analyzing 84 methodological studies published in 39 journals by 145 authors from 106 institutions.

Findings – The analysis reveals that specific authors dominate the network, whereas most authors work in isolated groups, loosely connected to the network’s focal authors. Besides presenting the results of a country level analysis, the research also identifies journals that play a key role in disseminating knowledge in the network. Finally, a burst detection analysis indicates that method comparisons and extensions, for example, to estimate common factor model data or to leverage PLS-SEM’s predictive capabilities, feature prominently in recent research.

Originality/value – Addressing the limitations of prior systematic literature reviews on the PLS-SEM method, this is the first study to apply SNA to reveal the interrelated structures and properties of PLS-SEM’s research domain.

Keywords: Structural equation modelling, Social network analysis, Partial least squares, PLS-SEM, Co-authorship networks, Knowledge networks

Suggested Citation

Sarstedt, Marko and Hair, Joseph F. and Ringle, Christian M., Methodological Research on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM): An Analysis Based on Social Network Approaches (2019). Internet Research (2019), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3388682

Marko Sarstedt

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg ( email )

Universitätspl. 2
PSF 4120
Magdeburg, D-39106
Germany

University of Newcastle (Australia) ( email )

University Drive
Callaghan, NSW 2308
Australia

Joseph F. Hair

Kennesaw State University ( email )

1000 Chastain Rd
Kennesaw, GA 30144
United States

Christian M. Ringle (Contact Author)

Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) ( email )

Am Schwarzenberg-Campus 4
Hamburg, 21073
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.tuhh.de/hrmo

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