Conceptual structure and thematic evolution in partial least squares structural equation modeling research
Angelelli, Mario, Ciavolino, Enrico, Ringle, Christian M., Sarstedt, Marko, and Aria, Massimo (2025) Conceptual structure and thematic evolution in partial least squares structural equation modeling research. Quality and Quantity, 59 (3). pp. 2753-2798.
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Abstract
Structural equation modeling (SEM) using partial least squares (PLS) has received considerable attention in recent years. We address the increasing fragmentation of PLS-SEM-related research across multiple fields of scientific inquiry by presenting a bibliometric analysis’s results of n = 9,150 documents from the Web of Science database. We identify the main themes by using bibliometric content analysis to explore the PLS-SEM knowledge structure’s definition, its main drivers, and the interplay between the methodology and the application themes over time. Furthermore, we document the dynamics of the PLS-SEM knowledge structure over four periods spanning 1995–2022, unveiling a surge in scientific production and connections among thematic areas due to topic evolution and hybridization. Finally, we investigate the driving forces behind these trends and the relationship between methodology and application themes, providing an integrative view and insights into PLS-SEM research across disciplines.
| Item ID: | 88027 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1573-7845 |
| Keywords: | Bibliometric content analysis, Bibliometrix R package, Conceptual structure, Network analysis, Partial least squares, Structural equation modeling |
| Copyright Information: | © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Mar 2026 06:40 |
| FoR Codes: | 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4410 Sociology > 441006 Sociological methodology and research methods @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280123 Expanding knowledge in human society @ 100% |
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