Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Health Sciences Education Researches: An Overview of the Method and Its Application

Introduction: There are many situations through which researchers of human sciences particularly in health sciences education attempt to assess relationships of variables. Moreover researchers may be willing to assess overall fit of theoretical models with the data emerged from the study population. This review introduces the structural equation models method and its application in health sciences education. Methods: Purposive library search (for book reviews), electronic resources and data bases including Google search engine (for books and articles) was used to gather information to be organized and presented here. Results: Health sciences education researchers can use statistical techniques known as structural equation models (SEM) that could be performed by software, in order to examine the appropriateness of conceptual models or their application in the population. The researchers should follow the general steps including designing a study, ensuring SEM assumptions to be met, assessing model fit and model modification, and interpreting the study results appropriately. Conclusion: Structural equation modeling has various capabilities and can help overcome limitations of traditional statistical methods. Therefore it has many implications for the studies related to humanities particularly health sciences education.