Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling, Fourth Edition (Methodology in the Social Sciences)

"Kline is a master at explaining complex concepts in a very accessible manner. It is refreshing to see a new edition of an important book that truly is new, not simply redesigned. The fourth edition successfully incorporates recent developments in SEM and contemporary forms of causal reasoning and analysis, such as the SCM. Unlike most SEM texts, this book is notable for making a sophisticated, often-difficult statistical technique understandable to non-statisticians without watering down the material. Kline makes excellent use of relevant statistical theory without overwhelming the reader with algebraic matrices, proofs, formulas, and statistical notations. I recommend this book without reservation to researchers, instructors, and students in the social and behavioral sciences. It is far more than an introduction to SEM--in my opinion, it is a potential catalyst for reconsidering the statistical methods that researchers apply to better understand human action and interaction."--Chris L. S. Coryn, PhD, Director, Interdisciplinary PhD in Evaluation, Western Michigan University

"Too often, new editions of statistics books do not have substantive changes, but that is not the case here--Kline has made significant improvements to an already excellent book. Staying current is particularly necessary in SEM, where the theory has been developing rapidly in the last 10 years, yielding, for example, better estimation methods for categorical data and Bayesian methods. Helpful features include the topic boxes, which allow detailed discussion of particular topics without interfering with the overall flow of the text. I also like the exercises at the end of each chapter, which highlight the important parts of the chapter and provide crucial learning opportunities. Kline’s use of the companion website to distribute real examples is excellent. After reading about the models and analyses, it is helpful--actually vital--to be able to practice running the models in various software packages."--Craig S. Wells, PhD, Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration, University of Massachusetts Amherst

"The best place to start for anyone who wants to learn the basics of SEM. The text emphasizes applied SEM content without relying on statistical formulas and the writing is clear and well organized, which is very helpful for students. I appreciate having exercises with answers that students can complete and check on their own. The examples are very helpful, and reflect the fact that real data are often troublesome. The website is easy to use and more extensive than for many other books."--Donna Harrington, PhD, University of Maryland School of Social Work

"The incorporation of Pearl’s approach to causal inference is a major improvement in the fourth edition. This is the most useful introductory SEM book out there. I have recommended this book to colleagues for both personal and class use, and will continue to do so."--Richard K. Wagner, PhD, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Florida State University; Associate Director, Florida Center for Reading Research

 "This book is unique in that it treats structural equation models for what they are--carriers of causal assumptions and tools for causal inference. Gone are the inhibitions and trepidation that characterize most SEM texts in their treatments of causal inference. Overall, the book elevates SEM education to a new level of modernity and promises to usher in a renaissance for a field that pioneered causal analysis in the behavioral sciences."--Judea Pearl, PhD, Department of Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles

"Perfectly addresses the needs of social scientists like me without formal training in mathematical statistics....Can be read by any graduate in psychology or even by keen undergraduates interested in exploring new vistas. Yet it will also constitute a surprisingly good read for experienced researchers in search of some refreshing insights in their favorite techniques....A real tour de force....Succeeds in reconciling comprehensiveness and comprehensibility." (on the second edition)

"The greatest strength of this book is Kline's ability to present materials in an engaging, accessible manner. In nearly all situations, Kline is able to describe even the more complex material in practical, jargon-free terms....In this regard, this book is unparalleled, and I suspect that this strength alone will make this the book of choice for many who are eager to learn SEM but who do not possess extensive quantitative backgrounds...This book could be readily adapted to courses for students with a basic understanding of correlation and regression or as part of a course for more advanced students." (on the second edition)

"This wonderfully written book is an impressive introduction to structural equation models (SEM) containing a sharp mix of expert analysis and observations....Contains important resources for both theoretical and applied researchers interested in SEMs...Appropriate as a text for graduate students and a reference for researchers, providing both audiences with valuable insight into the subject matter.." (on the second edition)

Rex B. Kline, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Concordia University in Montréal. Since earning a doctorate in clinical psychology, he has conducted research on the psychometric evaluation of cognitive abilities, behavioral and scholastic assessment of children, structural equation modeling, training of researchers, statistics reform in the behavioral sciences, and usability engineering in computer science. Dr. Kline has published a number of books, chapters, and journal articles in these areas. His website is http://tinyurl.com/rexkline.