A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM): Edition 2

Joseph F. Hair, Jr. · G. Tomas M. Hult · Christian M. Ringle · Marko Sarstedt

Feb 2016 · SAGE Publications

About this ebook

With applications using SmartPLS —the primary software used in partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)—this practical guide provides concise instructions on how to use this evolving statistical technique to conduct research and obtain solutions. Featuring the latest research, new examples, and expanded discussions throughout, the Second Edition is designed to be easily understood by those with limited statistical and mathematical training who want to pursue research opportunities in new ways.

Please note that all examples in this Second Edition use SmartPLS 3. To access this software, please visit

Ratings and reviews

I can't share the books with family in Zambia. What good is abook if it can't be shared? Please change the settings to global. You have university studends all over the world using these material!

I am an ABD student of the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama (cohort 6, beginning classes in 2018). This "primer" importantly broke down the complexities of PLS and SEM in "English." The text was approachable, and understandable. It made the transition to "Advanced Issues in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling" fairly seamless. I absolutely recommend this text book - it was an excellent "prep", and please do follow up with the "Advanced Issues..." text book, as it fully clarifies the "Primer's" simplified explanations..

The Primer on PLS-SEM is a fantastic introduction to the application of PLS-SEM. The authors provide a background and overview on the foundations of PLS-SEM and explain the distinctions between PLS-SEM and CB-SEM. The book contains updates for model metrics and assessing model fit for PLS-SEM as well as several methods for bootstrap analysis. I appreciate the authors’ efforts in making this book easy to understand for readers regardless of their level of skill and expertise. Also, this book has the best explanation of moderation analysis that I have ever read. If you are looking to understand what PLS-SEM is or if you are looking to get a better handle on applying PLS-SEM this book is a must have.

About the author

Joseph F. Hair, Jr. is Professor of Marketing, PhD Director, and the Cleverdon Chair of Business in the Mitchell College of Business, University of South Alabama, USA. He previously held the Copeland Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship and was Director, Entrepreneurship Institute, Ourso College of Business Administration, Louisiana State University. He has authored over 95 books, including Multivariate Data Analysis (8th edition, 2019) (cited 170,000+ times), MKTG (13th edition, 2019), Essentials of Business Research Methods, 5th edition, 2023), and Essentials of Marketing Research (6th edition, 2023). Dr. Hair is the most highly cited scholar in PLS-SEM and marketing, with 340,000+ citations (Google Scholar, 2023). He also has published numerous articles in scholarly journals and was recognized as the Academy of Marketing Science Marketing Educator of the year. A popular guest speaker, Professor Hair often presents seminars on research techniques, multivariate data analysis, and marketing issues for organizations in Europe, Australia, China, India, and South America.

G. Tomas M. Hult is Professor and Byington Endowed Chair at Michigan State University (USA), and holds a visiting Chaired Professorship at Leeds University Business School (United Kingdom) and a visiting professorship at Uppsala University (Sweden). Professor Hult is a member of the Expert Networks of the World Economic Forum and United Nations/UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum, and is also part of the Expert Team at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Dr. Hult was recognized in 2016 as the Academy of Marketing Science / CUTCO-Vector Distinguished Marketing Educator; he is an elected Fellow of the Academy of International Business; and he ranks in the top-10 scholars in marketing per the prestigious “world ranking of scientists.” At Michigan State University, Dr. Hult was recognized with the Beal Outstanding Faculty Award in 2019 (MSU’s highest award ”for outstanding total service to the University“), and he has also been recognized with the John Dunning AIB Service Award for outstanding service to AIB – as the longest serving Executive Director in AIB’s history (2004-2019) (the most prestigious service award given by the Academy of International Business). Professor Hult regularly teaches doctoral seminars on multivariate statistics, structural equation modeling, and hierarchical linear modeling worldwide. He is a dual citizen of Sweden and the United States. More information about Professor Hult can be found at http://www.tomashult.com.

Christian M. Ringle is Professor of Management at the Hamburg University of Technology (Germany). His research addresses management of organizations, human resource management, methods development for business analytics and their application to business research. His contributions in these fields have been published in journals such as International Journal of Research in Marketing, Information Systems Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, MIS Quarterly, Organizational Research Methods, and The International Journal of Human Resource Management. Since 2018, he has been named member of Clarivate Analytics’ Highly Cited Researchers List. In 2014, Ringle co-founded SmartPLS (http://www.smartpls.com), a software tool with a graphical user interface for the application of the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Besides supporting consultancies and international corporations, he regularly teaches doctoral seminars on business analytics and multivariate statistics, the PLS-SEM method, and the use of SmartPLS worldwide. More information about Professor Dr. Christian M. Ringle can be found at https://www.tuhh.de/hrmo/team/prof-dr-c-m-ringle.html.

Marko Sarstedt is Professor of Marketing at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (Germany) and an adjunct research professor at Babe?-Bolyai-University Cluj-Napoca (Romania). His main research interest is the advancement of research methods to further the understanding of consumer behavior. His research has been published in Nature Human Behaviour, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Multivariate Behavioral Research, Organizational Research Methods, MIS Quarterly, British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, and Psychometrika, among others. His research ranks among the most frequently cited in the social sciences with more than 100,000 citations according to Google Scholar. Marko has won numerous best paper and citation awards, including five Emerald Citations of Excellence awards and two AMS William R. Darden Awards. Marko has been repeatedly named member of Clarivate Analytics’ Highly Cited Researchers List. In March 2022, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Babe?-Bolyai-University Cluj-Napoca for his research achievements and contributions to international exchange.