Question

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a unique research approach as a non-experimental method. Which of the following statements is not true of SEM?

A. SEM doesn't require any statistical procedures.
B. SEM can identify direct and indirect effects, where some traits can be both causes and outcomes.
C. SEM predicts causal relationships among a set of latent traits.
D. SEM is based on a theoretical premise that shows how the traits should be related.

Answer 1

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) involves statistical procedures to model relationships between latent traits and requires a theoretical framework for hypothesizing variable relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'SEM doesn't require any statistical procedures' is not true about Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SEM does involve complex statistical procedures that include creating models to assess the relationships between latent (unobservable) traits.

SEM allows researchers to estimate both direct and indirect effects in a model and requires a theoretical framework as a basis for the hypothesized relationships between variables. Moreover, SEM is designed to understand and predict causal relationships, which is a core aspect of its functionality.