Abstract
This chapter presents a brief overview of principles and current topics in structural equation modeling (SEM). The chapter strives for breadth rather than depth, but includes readable references for those interested in delving deeper into any one topic. It begins with an introduction to the framework with model specification using path diagrams which translate into model equations. Both measurement and structural components of SEM are covered. Some advanced topics including latent growth models, missing data, categorical outcomes, and power are presented briefly. Latent class analysis, mixture models, and multilevel models are mentioned. Readers are encouraged to pursue the cited references for more comprehensive coverage of these important topics.
