A Review of Eight Software Packages for Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

This article reviews eight different software packages for linear structural equation modeling. The eight packages—Amos, SAS PROC CALIS, R packages sem, lavaan, OpenMx, LISREL, EQS, and Mplus—can help users estimate parameters for a model where the structure is well specified. Capabilities for handling single group, multiple group, nonnormal variables, and missing data are considered and the eight packages are compared across a variety of criteria from documentation to parameter estimation. The main difference between the packages is the presence of a graphical interface for model specification and presentation of results. Each package differs in terms of strengths, areas of improvement, and unique features that may dictate the choice of selection. Some suggestions on areas of improvement for all software packages are made. This article has supplementary materials online.

Keywords:

• Analysis of moment structures
• Confirmatory factor analysis
• Covariance structure analysis
• Latent variable modeling
• Linear structural relations
• Path analysis

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Section 2: Eight structural equation modeling (SEM) packages (contd.)

Section 3: Documentation

Section 4: Data management and data entry

Section 5: Capabilities for single-group analysis (contd.)

Figure S4. SIMPLIS project from path diagram for multiple-group analysis using

LISREL 8.80.

Figure S5. Available bootstrap options in Amos 18.0.

Table S1. Fit comparison among groups for boys’ and girls’ data from SAS PROC CALIS

Table S2. Mplus automation summary table for boys’ and girls’ data