An updated and expanded assessment of PLS-SEM in information systems research
Abstract
Purpose: Following the call for awareness of accepted reporting practices by Ringle, Sarstedt, and Straub in 2012, the purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in Industrial Management & Data Systems ( IMDS ) and extend MIS Quarterly ( MISQ ) applications to include the period 2012-2014. Design/methodology/approach: Review of PLS-SEM applications in information systems (IS) studies published in IMDS and MISQ for the period 2010-2014 identifying a total of 57 articles reporting the use of or commenting on PLS-SEM. Findings: The results indicate an increased maturity of the IS field in using PLS-SEM for model complexity and formative measures and not just small sample sizes and non-normal data. Research limitations/implications: Findings demonstrate the continued use and acceptance of PLS-SEM as an accepted research method within IS. PLS-SEM is discussed as the preferred SEM method when the research objective is prediction. Practical implications: This update on PLS-SEM use and recent developments will help authors to better understand and apply the method. Researchers are encouraged to engage in complete reporting procedures. Originality/value: Applications of PLS-SEM for exploratory research and theory development are increasing. IS scholars should continue to exercise sound practice by reporting reasons for using PLS-SEM and recognizing its wider applicability for research. Recommended reporting guidelines following Ringle et al. (2012) and Gefen et al. (2011) are included. Several important methodological updates are included as well.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Cronbach's Alpha, rho A, and Composite Reliability were within acceptable thresholds for all dimensions.
“Although Cronbach's Alpha, rho A, and Composite Reliability were within the acceptable thresholds for all dimensions (Henseler et al. 2016; Hair et al. 2017)”
From Cybervetting job applicants on social media: the new normal? (2020) · cites this paper as Hair et al. 2017
CFA showed item loadings of all factors exceed 0.60.
“As shown in the table, the item loadings of all factors in the study exceed the threshold value of 0.60 as recommended by Hair et al. [113].”
From How social media usage affects psychological and subjective well-being: testing a moderated mediation model (2023) · cites this paper as [113]
Cites
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.51.6.1173 · Cited by 91,542 · see citing works
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173 · Cited by 91,532 · see citing works
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003) · Journal of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879 · Cited by 82,194 · see citing works
A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8 · Cited by 38,459 · see citing works
Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/brm.40.3.879 · Cited by 34,117 · see citing works
Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: myths and truths about mediation analysis
Zhao, X., Lynch, J. G., & Chen, Q. (2010) · Journal of Consumer Research · doi:10.1086/651257 · Cited by 12,583 · see citing works
Multivariate data analysis : a global perspective
Hair, J. F. (2010) · Cited by 12,258 · see citing works
Self-citationAn assessment of the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling in marketing research
Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Mena, J. A. (2012) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-011-0261-6 · Cited by 8,088 · see citing works
Self-citationHarman, H. H. (1960) · Cited by 5,148 · see citing works
Two Structural Equation Models: LISREL and PLS Applied to Consumer Exit-Voice Theory
Fornell, C., & Bookstein, F. L. (1982) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.2307/3151718 · Cited by 4,516 · see citing works
Testing measurement invariance of composites using partial least squares
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2016) · International Marketing Review · doi:10.1108/imr-09-2014-0304 · Cited by 3,460 · see citing works
Common Beliefs and Reality About PLS: Comments on Rönkkö and Evermann (2013)
Henseler, J., Dijkstra, T. K., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Diamantopoulos, A., Straub, D. W., Ketchen, D. J., Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., & Calantone, R. J. (2014) · Organizational Research Methods · doi:10.1177/1094428114526928 · Cited by 3,332 · see citing works
Self-citationGalit Shmueli, A. (2010) · Statistical Science · doi:10.1214/10-sts330 · Cited by 3,121 · see citing works
An empirical comparison of the efficacy of covariance-based and variance-based SEM
Reinartz, W., Haenlein, M., & Henseler, J. (2009) · International Journal of Research in Marketing · doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2009.08.001 · Cited by 2,906 · see citing works
Consistent Partial Least Squares Path Modeling1
Dijkstra, T. K., & Henseler, J. (2015) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2015/39.2.02 · Cited by 2,898 · see citing works
Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Pieper, T. M., & Ringle, C. M. (2012) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2012.09.008 · Cited by 2,454 · see citing works
Self-citationSarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Smith, D., Reams, R., & Hair, J. F. (2014) · Journal of Family Business Strategy · doi:10.1016/j.jfbs.2014.01.002 · Cited by 2,212 · see citing works
Self-citationRingle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., & Straub, D. W. (2012) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/41410402 · Cited by 2,184 · see citing works
Diamantopoulos, A., Sarstedt, M., Fuchs, C., Wilczynski, P., & Kaiser, S. (2012) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-011-0300-3 · Cited by 1,812 · see citing works
Gefen (2011) · doi:10.2307/23044042 · Cited by 1,596 · see citing works
Peng, D. X., & Lai, F. (2012) · Journal of Operations Management · doi:10.1016/j.jom.2012.06.002 · Cited by 1,532 · see citing works
Sarstedt, M., Henseler, J., & Ringle, C. M. (2011) · Advances in International Marketing · doi:10.1108/s1474-7979(2011)0000022012 · Cited by 1,326 · see citing works
Consistent and asymptotically normal PLS estimators for linear structural equations
Dijkstra, T. K., & Henseler, J. (2014) · Computational Statistics & Data Analysis · doi:10.1016/j.csda.2014.07.008 · Cited by 1,268 · see citing works
Confirmatory tetrad analysis in PLS path modeling
Gudergan, S. P., Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Will, A. (2008) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2008.01.012 · Cited by 704 · see citing works
A critical look at the use of SEM in international business research
Richter, N., Sinkovics, R. R., Ringle, C. M., & Schlaegel, C. (2016) · International Marketing Review · doi:10.1108/imr-04-2014-0148 · Cited by 643 · see citing works
Editor's comments: a critical look at the use of PLS-SEM in MIS quarterly
Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., & Straub, D. W. (2012) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems · Cited by 520 · see citing works
Silver Bullet or Voodoo Statistics?
Sosik, J. J., Kahai, S. S., & Piovoso, M. J. (2009) · Group & Organization Management · doi:10.1177/1059601108329198 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
Discovering Unobserved Heterogeneity in Structural Equation Models to Avert Validity Threats1
Becker, J.-M., Rai, A., Ringle, C. M., & Völckner, F. (2013) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2013/37.3.01 · Cited by 464 · see citing works
A Critical Examination of Common Beliefs About Partial Least Squares Path Modeling
Rönkkö, M., & Evermann, J. (2013) · Organizational Research Methods · doi:10.1177/1094428112474693 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling in Tourism Research
do Valle, P. O., & Assaker, G. (2015) · Journal of Travel Research · doi:10.1177/0047287515569779 · Cited by 397 · see citing works
On the use of partial least squares path modeling in accounting research
Lee, L. S., Petter, S., Fayard, D., & Robinson, S. N. (2011) · International Journal of Accounting Information Systems · doi:10.1016/j.accinf.2011.05.002 · Cited by 395 · see citing works
Heresies and sacred cows in scholarly marketing publications
Babin, B. J., Griffin, M., & Hair, J. F. (2015) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.001 · Cited by 304 · see citing works
Self-citationSome comments on maximum likelihood and partial least squares methods
Dijkstra, T. K. (1983) · Journal of Econometrics · doi:10.1016/0304-4076(83)90094-5 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
A Critical Look at Partial Least Squares Modeling
Marcoulides, G. A., Chin, & Saunders (2009) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/20650283 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
A critical look at partial least squares modeling
Marcoulides, G. A., Chin, W. W., & Saunders, C. (2009) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.5555/2017410.2017421 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
PLS and Success Factor Studies in Marketing
Albers, S. (2009) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-32827-8_19 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
On Components, Latent Variables, PLS and Simple Methods: Reactions to Rigdon's Rethinking of PLS
Bentler, P. M., & Huang, W. (2014) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2014.02.005 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Dijkstra, T. K. (2014) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2014.02.004 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Tourism Entrepreneurship Performance
Hallak, R., Assaker, G., & Lee, C. (2013) · Journal of Travel Research · doi:10.1177/0047287513513170 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Selecting single items to measure doubly concrete constructs: A cautionary tale
Sarstedt, M., Diamantopoulos, A., Salzberger, T., & Baumgartner, P. (2015) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.004 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Should we use single items? Better not
Sarstedt, M., Diamantopoulos, A., & Salzberger, T. (2016) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.02.040 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Gudergan, S. P. (2015) · Annals of Tourism Research · doi:10.1016/j.annals.2015.10.006 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R: A Workbook
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021) · Classroom Companion: Business · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7 · Cited by 10,343 · see citing works
Self-citationPredictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: guidelines for using PLSpredict
Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019) · European Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1108/ejm-02-2019-0189 · Cited by 4,618 · see citing works
Self-citationPartial least squares structural equation modeling in HRM research
Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Mitchell, R., & Gudergan, S. P. (2020) · The International Journal of Human Resource Management · doi:10.1080/09585192.2017.1416655 · Cited by 1,943 · see citing works
Benitez, J., Henseler, J., Castillo, A., & Schuberth, F. (2020) · Information & Management · doi:10.1016/j.im.2019.05.003 · Cited by 1,788 · see citing works
Improving PLS-SEM Use for Business Marketing Research
Guenther, P., Guenther, M., Ringle, C. M., Zaefarian, G., & Cartwright, S. (2023) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2023.03.010 · Cited by 800 · see citing works
How perceptions of intelligence and anthropomorphism affect adoption of personal intelligent agents
Moussawi, S., Koufaris, M., & Benbunan-Fich, R. (2021) · Electronic Markets · doi:10.1007/s12525-020-00411-w · Cited by 406 · see citing works
Hou, F., Guan, Z., Li, B., & Chong, A. Y. L. (2019) · Internet Research · doi:10.1108/intr-04-2018-0177 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Self-citationDahri, N. A., Yahaya, N., Al-Rahmi, W. M., Aldraiweesh, A., Alturki, U., Almutairy, S., Shutaleva, A., & Soomro, R. B. (2024) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29317 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
“These values surpass the recommended threshold of 0.7, affirming strong internal consistency [102,123].”
BackgroundInfluentialShahzad, M. F., Xu, S., Lim, W. M., Yang, X., & Khan, Q. R. (2024) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29523 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
The adoption of remote work platforms after the Covid-19 lockdown: New approach, new evidence
Sahut, J. M., & Lissillour, R. (2023) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113345 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Zhou, S., Li, T., Yang, S., & Chen, Y. (2022) · Electronic Commerce Research and Applications · doi:10.1016/j.elerap.2022.101126 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Zhang, C., Tang, L., & Liu, Z. (2023) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-023-01311-2 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Pattali, S., Sankar, J. P., Al Qahtani, H., Menon, N., & Faizal, S. (2024) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-024-10674-0 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Light exposure behaviors predict mood, memory and sleep quality
Siraji, M. A., Spitschan, M., Kalavally, V., & Haque, S. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-39636-y · Cited by 69 · see citing works
van Bussel, M. J. P., Odekerken–Schröder, G. J., Ou, C., Swart, R. R., & Jacobs, M. J. G. (2022) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-022-08189-7 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Cybervetting job applicants on social media: the new normal?
Jacobson, J., & Gruzd, A. (2020) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-020-09526-2 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
García-Salirrosas, E. E., Escobar-Farfán, M., Esponda-Perez, J. A., Millones-Liza, D. Y., Villar-Guevara, M., Haro-Zea, K. L., & Gallardo-Canales, R. (2024) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1482009 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“According to Hair et al. (122), to evaluate the measurement model, an estimate of the reliability of the constructs (composite reliability and Cronbach’s alpha) and validity (discriminant and convergent validity) was proposed.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialLiu, F., Chang, X., Zhu, Q., Huang, Y., Li, Y., & Wang, H. (2024) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/s12909-024-06232-1 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Goswami, M., Jain, S., Alam, T., Deifalla, A. F., Ragab, A. E., & Khargotra, R. (2023) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1215706 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Tedjakusuma, A. P., Silalahi, A. D. K., Eunike, I. J., Phuong, D. T. T., & Riantama, D. (2025) · Digital Business · doi:10.1016/j.digbus.2025.100115 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Building trust in cybernetic payment network: Insights from an emerging economy
Ahmed, S., Ahmed, R., Ashrafi, D. M., Ahmed, E., & Annamalah, S. (2024) · Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity · doi:10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100331 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Chen, J., & Kouhsari, M. (2025) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105232 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Ahmad, A., Fareed, M., Isa, M. F. M., & Salleh, S. S. M. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.756255 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Thao, T. T., Linh, L. T. P., & Cuong, N. Q. (2025) · Sage Open · doi:10.1177/21582440251385705 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Sokro, E., Obuobisa-Darko, T., & Okpattah, B. (2025) · Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education · doi:10.1108/jarhe-03-2024-0150
- Authors
- Hair, J., Hollingsworth, C. L., Randolph, A. B., & Chong, A. Y. L.
- Affiliations
- University of South Alabama (US)
- Kennesaw State University (US)
- University of Nottingham Ningbo China (CN)
- Venue
- Industrial Management & Data Systems
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2017-04-10
- Volume
- 117
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 442-458
- ISSN
- 0263-5577 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2595629513
- Cited by
- 4,043
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 549 · 2025: 794 · 2024: 738 · 2023: 638 · 2022: 510 · 2021: 334 · 2020: 264 · 2019: 147 · 2018: 56 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 114.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Industrial Management & Data Systems (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Business Strategies and Management Research
- Keywords
- partial least squares structural equation modeling, PLS-SEM, information systems research, reporting guidelines, model complexity, small sample size, non-normal data, MIS Quarterly
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review