Aims & Scope
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is an international forum dedicated to advancing the science and practice of SEM. Our mission is to publish work that not only strengthens the methodological foundations of SEM but also demonstrates its value in solving real-world problems across disciplines. We welcome contributions that are rigorous, innovative, and impactful, offering authors the opportunity to reach an interdisciplinary readership that is actively shaping the future of research.
We are especially interested in manuscripts that:
- Develop or refine SEM techniques, estimation procedures, and model evaluation strategies.
- Apply SEM to address complex theoretical questions or empirical challenges in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences.
- Bridge methodological innovation with substantive application, showing how SEM contributes to both academic inquiry and practical decision-making.
Areas of Coverage:
Decision Sciences
SEM is a powerful tool for analyzing how people and organizations make choices under uncertainty. We publish studies that use SEM to model decision-making processes, evaluate organizational effectiveness, explore risk perceptions, and understand consumer behavior. Work that links decision theory with applied SEM modeling is particularly welcome.
Economics, Econometrics, and Finance
The journal welcomes research that uses SEM to test economic theories, explore financial markets, and model latent economic constructs such as expectations, trust, or confidence. Submissions may span both micro and macroeconomic domains, from household finance to global economic systems. Articles that show how SEM deepens understanding of complex financial and economic structures are highly encouraged.
Mathematics, Modeling, and Simulation
We support research that strengthens the mathematical and computational underpinnings of SEM. This includes simulation studies, new estimation methods, fit evaluation, and algorithmic innovations. We also encourage comparative studies that position SEM alongside alternative frameworks and studies that develop tools to make SEM more robust, efficient, and accessible.
Social Sciences, Sociology, and Political Science
SEM has been instrumental in advancing social research, and we continue to support studies that apply it to major issues such as social inequality, institutional trust, civic engagement, political attitudes, governance, and cross-national comparisons. We encourage submissions that demonstrate how SEM uncovers hidden structures in human behaviour and societal systems, connecting theory to empirical evidence.
Why Publish in the SEM Journal?
SEM is more than a methodological platform. It is a community where statisticians, social scientists, economists, and decision scientists come together to advance both theory and application. Publishing with us means:
- Visibility: Your work will be accessible to a broad, interdisciplinary audience.
- Impact: We welcome studies that not only refine models but also influence practice in policy, economics, and society.
- Rigor with Reach: We value high-quality methodology and equally value its ability to inform real-world problems.
Whether you are developing cutting-edge methods, running complex simulations, or applying SEM to pressing social and economic questions, it provides a respected platform for your work.