Modelli relazioni strutture. Una introduzione ai modelli di equazioni strutturali

Structural Equation Models (SEM) have revolutionized the approach to analyzing and testing theories and hypotheses in psychological, social, and economic sciences, allowing for the use of simultaneous equations with latent variables. The focus of these models is to empirically examine the consistency of scientific hypotheses regarding the relationships between variables, testing their fit with empirical data. This volume aims to introduce Italian students and researchers to the key topics related to the use of these models. The topics covered include: the definition, mathematical models, and statistical assumptions of SEM; the phases of SEM (specification, identification, estimation, evaluation, and model modification); measurement models (confirmatory factor analysis, psychometric models, reliability, ESEM, models with ordinal and non-normal categorical variables); structural models with latent variables (aggregation levels; statistical mediation analysis). The book provides practical examples and online materials related to the use of some of the most widely used software for applying these models, such as Mplus and Lavaan/Jamovi. In particular, examples using Mplus are mainly described in the text, while examples with Lavaan/Jamovi software are presented in the online materials.