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Hands-on with SmartPLS

Create Project (13:58)
Opens up SmartPLS and discusses the various elements of this path modeling drawing
tool. This video is useful for someone who is using SmartPLS for the first time and
wants to create a project. Talks about the minimalistic design of SmartPLS and how to
navigate the SmartPLS interface. Shows how to create a project and how to import the
data that you will use for your path models.
Drawing a Basic SmartPLS Model (10:58)
Demonstrates how to draw a path model using SmartPLS software. This video shows
the basic steps of: (1) 'dropping' latent constructs into the drawing window; (2)
associating measurement items with those latent constructs; and (3) 'connecting' the
latent constructs with directional paths. Once the basic path model has been drawn, it is
possible to proceed to the step of estimating the model.
Estimating the Basic SmartPLS Model (23:19)
Discusses the nature of estimating stable, reliable coefficients for the inner model paths
coefficients, and the weights and loadings for the measurement model. We also look at
estimating the R-squared values for the endogenous variables and discuss what the
"significance levels" are and what they mean. Finally, we briefly discuss the nature of
bootstrapping with PLS, that is, resampling with replacement.
Examine the Results (13:37)
What do the numbers mean in SmartPLS? That is, how do you interpret the many rows
and columns of data in the tables that are provided in the bootstrap default report and
the PLS default report? What are the important numbers that you should report when
you are presenting the results of your model? These are the issues that are discussed
in this video.
How to Handle Missing Data (10:23)
How do you encode and process observations in your data set that contain missing
data? This is a common problem and there is a well-defined means for dealing with this
issue in SmartPLS. This video demonstrates how to handle so-called missing data
cells with SmartPLS. Also, there are two built-in data imputation alternatives when
using SmartPLS: mean replacement and case-wise replacement.