This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of Partial Least Squares (PLS) methods with specific reference to their use in marketing and with a discussion of the directions of current research and perspectives. It covers the broad area of PLS methods, from regression to structural equation modeling applications, software and interpretation of results. The handbook serves both as an introduction for those without prior knowledge of PLS and as a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners interested in the most recent advances in PLS methodology.

This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of Partial Least Squares (PLS) methods with specific reference to their use in marketing and with a discussion of the directions of current research and perspectives. It covers the broad area of PLS methods, from regression to structural equation modeling applications, software and interpretation of results. The handbook serves both as an introduction for those without prior knowledge of PLS and as a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners interested in the most recent advances in PLS methodology.

Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has become a standard approach for analyzing complex inter-relationships between observed and latent variables. Researchers appreciate the many advantages of PLS-SEM such as the possibility to estimate very complex models and the method’s flexibility in terms of data requirements and measurement specification. This practical open access guide provides a step-by-step treatment of the major choices in analyzing PLS path models using R, a free software environment for statistical computing, which runs on Windows, macOS, and UNIX computer platforms. Adopting the R software’s SEMinR package, which brings a friendly syntax to creating and estimating structural equation models, each chapter offers a concise overview of relevant topics and metrics, followed by an in-depth description of a case study. Simple instructions give readers the “how-tos” of using SEMinR to obtain solutions and document their results. Rules of thumb in every chapter provide guidance on best practices in the application and interpretation of PLS-SEM.

This book pulls together robust practices in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) from other disciplines and shows how they can be used in the area of Banking and Finance. In terms of empirical analysis techniques, Banking and Finance is a conservative discipline. As such, this book will raise awareness of the potential of PLS-SEM for application in various contexts. PLS-SEM is a non-parametric approach designed to maximize explained variance in latent constructs. Latent constructs are directly unobservable phenomena such as customer service quality and managerial competence. Explained variance refers to the extent we can predict, say, customer service quality, by examining other theoretically related latent constructs such as conduct of staff and communication skills. Examples of latent constructs at the microeconomic level include customer service quality, managerial effectiveness, perception of market leadership, etc.; macroeconomic-level latent constructs would be found in contagion of systemic risk from one financial sector to another, herd behavior among fund managers, risk tolerance in financial markets, etc. Behavioral Finance is bound to provide a wealth of opportunities for applying PLS-SEM. The book is designed to expose robust processes in application of PLS-SEM, including use of various software packages and codes, including R. PLS-SEM is already a popular tool in marketing and management information systems used to explain latent constructs. Until now, PLS-SEM has not enjoyed a wide acceptance in Banking and Finance. Based on recent research developments, this book represents the first collection of PLS-SEM applications in Banking and Finance. This book will serve as a reference book for those researchers keen on adopting PLS-SEM to explain latent constructs in Banking and Finance.

Partial least squares is a new approach in structural equation modeling that can pay dividends when theory is scarce, correct model specifications are uncertain, and predictive accuracy is paramount. Marketers can use PLS to build models that measure latent variables such as socioeconomic status, perceived quality, satisfaction, brand attitude, buying intention, and customer loyalty. When applied correctly, PLS can be a great alternative to existing covariance-based SEM approaches. Dr. Ken Kwong-Kay Wong wrote this reference guide with graduate students and marketing practitioners in mind. Coupled with business examples and downloadable datasets for practice, the guide includes step-by-step guidelines for advanced PLS-SEM procedures in SmartPLS, including: CTA-PLS, FIMIX-PLS, GoF (SRMR, dULS, and dG), HCM, HTMT, IPMA, MICOM, PLS-MGA, PLS-POS, PLSc, and QEM. Filled with useful illustrations to facilitate understanding, you’ll find this guide a go-to tool when conducting marketing research. “This book provides all the essentials in comprehending, assimilating, applying and explicitly presenting sophisticated structured models in the most simplistic manner for a plethora of Business and Non-Business disciplines.” — Professor Siva Muthaly, Dean of Faculty of Business and Management at APU.

The Second Edition of Advanced Issues in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling offers a straightforward and practical guide to PLS-SEM for users ready to go further than the basics of A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, Third Edition. Even in this advanced guide, the authors have limited the emphasis on equations, formulas, and Greek symbols, and instead rely on detailed explanations of the fundamentals of PLS-SEM and provide general guidelines for understanding and evaluating the results of applying the method. A single study on corporate reputation features as an example throughout the book, along with a single software package (SmartPLS 4.0) to provide a seamless learning experience. The approach of this book is based on the authors’ many years of conducting research and teaching methodology courses, including developing the SmartPLS software. The preparation of the book, especially this new edition, is based on the authors’ desire to communicate the PLS-SEM method to a much broader audience from management and marketing to engineering, geography, medicine, political and environmental sciences, psychology, and beyond. The Second Edition includes a new chapter on the necessary condition analysis (NCA) and covers the most recent developments in PLS-SEM, with detailed guidelines for estimating and validating higher-order constructs and nonlinear effects as well as more insights on multigroup and latent class analyses using FIMIX-PLS and PLS-POS. The book is aimed at researchers and practitioners who seek to gain comprehensive knowledge of more advanced PLS-SEM methods.

In this handbook, internationally renowned scholars outline the current state-of-the-art of quantitative and qualitative market research. They discuss focal approaches to market research and guide students and practitioners in their real-life applications. Aspects covered include topics on data-related issues, methods, and applications. Data-related topics comprise chapters on experimental design, survey research methods, international market research, panel data fusion, and endogeneity. Method-oriented chapters look at a wide variety of data analysis methods relevant for market research, including chapters on regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), conjoint analysis, and text analysis. Application chapters focus on specific topics relevant for market research such as customer satisfaction, customer retention modeling, return on marketing, and return on price promotions. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field. The presentation of the material seeks to improve the intuitive and technical understanding of the methods covered.