A Five-Step Guide to Conducting SEM Analysis in Counseling Research

The use of structural equation modeling (SEM), a second-generation multivariate analysis technique that determines the degree to which a theoretical model is supported by the sample data, is becoming increasingly popular in counseling research. SEM tests models that include both observed and latent variables, allowing the counseling researcher to confirm the factor structure of a newly developed or existing psychological instruments and to examine the plausibility of complex, theoretical counseling models. This article provides counseling researchers and practitioners with an overview of SEM and presents five steps for conducting SEM analysis in counseling research.