ABSTRACT
This chapter considers structural equation modeling to discuss the general issues involved in preparing Educational Psychology researchers to properly use advanced statistical methods. It outlines the general problem of teaching advanced statistical methods to students in Educational Psychology using the case of structural equation modeling. The chapter argues that a large portion of poor state of applications is due to the enticement of such students to be self sufficient. While this is laudable and advisable regarding more straightforward, standard statistical techniques, it is not a healthy attitude regarding a new, sophisticated technique such as structural modeling, a topic which it takes years to master well. The methodological training of graduate students in the area of Educational Psychology poses an exceptional challenge. Structural equation modeling is a general term for a set of techniques that cover path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and general latent variable models that combine features of path and factor analysis.
