ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the overall procedure of conducting statistical analyses using the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. SEM allows researchers to study relationships among variables that are either latent or observed, continuous or categorical. We discuss several technical issues of typical SEMs that are likely to be encountered by researchers in the field of second language acquisition and individual differences. Issues include SEM analysis with categorical data, the choice of estimation method, and methods for correction for measurement errors. We also provide a summary of SEM applications in the field of second language acquisition and individual differences.
