Discussion: View Thread

In cooperation with: (1) the University of Hamburg (http://www.uni-hamburg.de) and SmartPLS (http://www.smartpls.de); (2) Radboud University (http://www.ru.nl) and PLS-School (http://www.PLS-school.com); and (3) faculty at Georgia State University (http://www.gsu.edu), we are offering a globally-available synchronous, live, interactive, video- and audio-supported online workshop for structural equation modeling (SEM) partial least squares (PLS) path modeling using SmartPLS. This live, synchronous, globally-available online workshop is conducted using the award-winning eLearning platform Elluminate Live ! The purpose of the online workshop is to inform participants of the uses and applications of PLS path modeling using SmartPLS and to provide live, "hands-on" demonstrations of the basic and intermediate techniques of using SmartPLS.

The workshop consists of two integrated sessions on two consecutive days. All that is required to participate is a fast, reliable Internet connection (not dial-up) and a set of inexpensive headphones with a microphone (cost: $13 anywhere). There is no cost for participants to use the Elluminate Live ! platform. Participants receive: (1) the SmartPLS software; (2) all training materials, data sets, and slides from the training sessions; (3) abundant literature regarding PLS path modeling; and (4) access to high-fidelity reproductions of all of the presented live material after the workshop is completed (on Internet-provided recordings available free of charge for three months following the workshop). These workshop recordings are for individual participant use only, and include all video, audio and "hands-on" demonstrations and exercises.

In addition to an introduction to PLS path modeling using SmartPLS, the following topics (in addition to others) are included:

CB-SEM vs. PLS-SEM
SmartPLS Visual Interface
Scale Development
Bootstrapping vs. Jackknifing
Blindfolding
PLS Algorithm
Theory Testing vs. Prediction
Assessment of PLS Path modeling estimates (measurement model and structural model)
            Reflective vs. Formative
Interpreting SmartPLS Output
Overall Goodness-of-Fit
Effect Size
Reflective vs. Formative indicators
Second-order Factor Models
Mediating Factors
            Assessing the effect
Moderating Factors
            Product indicator approach
            Group differences approach
            Three-Way Interactions
            Determining strength of moderating effect
            Two-stage approach
Non-linear Effects
Multi-group Analysis
Heterogeneity, Segmentation and FIMIX-PLS

The workshop agenda approximates the following schedule. There are seven separate learning modules in each workshop, five of which conclude with a "hands-on" exercise using SmartPLS with existing data sets (provided).

DAY 1
1)    Introduction to PLS, Latent Constructs, SEM and SmartPLS
2)    Basic path modeling with SmartPLS
           Basic path modeling exercise – TAM model data
3)    Evaluating PLS path models
           Model evaluation exercise – UTAUT model data
DAY 2
1)    PLS algorithm, bootstrapping, jackknifing and blindfolding
2)    Mediation
           Mediation exercise – Social presence model data
3)    Moderating variables
           Moderation exercise – UTAUT moderating relationships
4)    Second order models, multi-group analysis, heterogeneous data and FIMIX-PLS
           FIMIX-PLS exercise – UTAUT heterogeneous data