Hair, J. F. Jr., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M. (2014). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publications. ISBN: 978-1-4522-1744-4. 307 pp.

Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)In view of its essential role in knowledge creation, multivariate data analysis prevails in the social sciences literature. The field of tourism is not an exception, specifically in the widely adoption of structural equation modeling (SEM), a multivariate technique, by tourism researchers over the past decade. While there are two major types of SEM including covariance-based SEM (CB-SEM) and variance-based SEM (PLS-SEM), the former dominated previous tourism research. However, increasing use of PLS-SEM in tourism research has been witnessed in recent years. This upward trend is likely to persist in the near future given the growing popularity of PLS-SEM in other social sciences domains like marketing, strategic management, and management information system, as specified in the preface of the book. Indeed, PLS-SEM, in relative to CB- SEM, provides more flexibility in handling of data. For instance, PLS-SEM is well-suited for accommodating small sample sizes and complex model, fortesting a model containing both formative and reflective constructs, and for handling single-item measures. To this end, the timely introduction of the book A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) helps tourism researchers stand at the front edge of the SEM technique and make effective use of the PLS-SEM in data analysis. Additionally, the book illustrates the application of PLS-SEM with a free downloadable software namely SmartPLS which is essential to extend the application of PLS-SEM in tourism research.Authored by Hair, Hult, Ringo, and Sarstedt, the book consists of eight chapters. To equip the readers with the basic knowledge of PLS- SEM, Chapter 1 delineates the meaning of SEM and its relationship with multivariate data analysis, followed by a description of the major elements in multivariate data analysis. Then the basic elements of PLS-SEM are explained. Finally, PLS-SEM is distinguished from its counterpart namely CB-SEM while the major characteristics of PLS-SEM and the conditions where the PLS-SEM are more adequate than CB-SEM and vice versa are discussed. To step in the application of PLS- SEM, Chapter 2 firstly explicates the concepts in structural model specification including mediation, moderation, and higher-order models. Then specification of measurement model is explained with a special focus on the differences between reflective and formative measures. After that, the issues that need to be addressed after data collection are discussed. The chapter ends by creating the model in the SmartPLS is illustrated. With an established model, Chapter 3 focuses on model estimation. The chapter explains the algorithm underpinning the estimation and the statistical properties of the PLS-SEM method, as well as the options and parameter settings for running the algorithm. Following that, the issues about interpretation of results are explained. The final section illustrates the execution of model estimation in the SmartPLS.Based on the model estimation, empirical measures of the measurement and structural models are derived, where evaluation of the models takes place. Chapter 4 exhibits the major steps in model evaluation in the beginning. Thereafter, the chapter explains the evaluation of reflective measurement models according to three major criteria including internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, followed by an illustration with the SmartPLS. Chapter 5 explains the assessment of formative measurement models with respect to the criteria of convergent validity, collinearity, and significance and relevance of the formative indicators. The chapter also elucidates the basic concepts of bootstrapping which is used to examine the statistical significance of estimates in PLS- SEM. An illustration of the assessment of formative measurement model in the SmartPLS follows. Chapter 6 continues the topic on model evaluation by focusing on the assessment of structural model. …