Deciding Between AMOS and SMART-PLS for Data Analysis: A Systematic Review of Features and Capabilities

By the way, I am stating the features and capabilities just to help you to understand the blog easily by getting the basics right. So, let’s get started but what will be the first question to answer? Well, obviously the features of both the software. So, first, let’s know the features of AMOS.

Some of the key features of AMOS include:

• User-friendly interface: AMOS provides a graphical user interface that makes it easy for researchers to specify the model and analyze results. This interface allows users to drag and drop variables and paths onto a diagram and see the resulting model.

• SEM capabilities: AMOS is designed for SEM and latent variable modelling, allowing researchers to specify complex relationships between variables, including mediation and moderation effects.

• Model assessment tools: AMOS provides a range of tools for assessing the fit of the model to the data, including goodness-of-fit statistics, modification indices, and standardized residuals. These tools help researchers identify areas of the model that may need adjustment and provide guidance for refining the model.

• Path analysis: AMOS allows researchers to perform path analysis, which is a technique used to study relationships between variables by estimating the direct and indirect effects of each variable on the outcome variable.

• Factor analysis: AMOS includes tools for conducting factor analysis, which is a technique used to identify underlying factors that explain patterns of correlations among variables.

• Model comparison: AMOS allows researchers to compare different models and assess which model provides the best fit to the data.

• Data visualization: AMOS provides various visualization options to help researchers understand the results of the analysis, including path diagrams and model plots.

Now, along with it, let us know the features of SMART-PLS software so that we can easily compare these two. 

Here are some of its features:

• Graphical User Interface (GUI): SMART-PLS has an easy-to-use graphical interface, which allows users to perform all the steps of the PLS-SEM analysis through an interactive menu.

• Multicollinearity analysis: SMART-PLS provides a range of diagnostics to assess the multicollinearity among the variables.

• Path model analysis: SMART-PLS enables users to create path models and test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.

• Bootstrapping: SMART-PLS uses the bootstrap method to generate bootstrap samples and estimate the standard errors and confidence intervals of the model coefficients.

• Visualization: SMART-PLS allows users to generate various graphical outputs, such as path diagrams, structural equation models, and factor loadings plots.

• Latent variable modelling: SMART-PLS can be used to model latent variables, which are unobserved variables that represent underlying constructs that cannot be directly measured.

• Partial Least Squares Regression: SMART-PLS also supports Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), which is a multivariate statistical technique used for regression analysis when there are high correlations between the predictors.

• Data preprocessing: SMART-PLS can preprocess the data, including data cleaning, transformation, and normalization, before conducting the PLS-SEM analysis.

• Advanced analyses: SMART-PLS can perform advanced analyses, such as multi-group analysis, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis, to test more complex relationships between the variables.

I hope that you have understood the differences in the features of AMOS and SMART-PLS, if you haven’t, kindly tell us in the comment section so that we can clarify your doubts. So, let’s move to the next question which is what are the capabilities of the AMOS software.

Here are some of its capabilities:

• Graphical User Interface (GUI): AMOS has a user-friendly graphical interface, which allows users to create, edit and analyze SEM models through a visual and interactive menu.

• Path modelling analysis: AMOS enables users to create path models and test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.

• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA): AMOS can be used to perform CFA to assess the construct validity of the measures and evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the measurement model.

• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM): AMOS can conduct SEM analysis, which allows users to test the hypothesized relationships between the latent variables and the observed variables.

• Bootstrapping: AMOS supports bootstrapping to generate bootstrap samples and estimate the standard errors and confidence intervals of the model coefficients.

• Model Fit Evaluation: AMOS provides various fit indices to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the SEM model, such as chi-square statistic, RMSEA, CFI, TLI, and SRMR.

• Mediation Analysis: AMOS can be used to perform mediation analysis, which allows users to test whether a third variable (mediator) explains the relationship between two other variables.

• Moderation Analysis: AMOS supports moderation analysis, which allows users to test whether the strength of the relationship between two variables depends on the value of a third variable.

• Multilevel Modeling: AMOS can be used to perform multilevel modelling, which allows users to analyze data with nested structures, such as hierarchical data or longitudinal data.

Now, for the sake of comparison, let’s find out the capabilities of the SMART-PLS software.

Here are some of its capabilities:

• Graphical User Interface (GUI): SMART-PLS has an easy-to-use graphical interface, which allows users to perform all the steps of the PLS-SEM analysis through an interactive menu.

• Multicollinearity analysis: SMART-PLS provides a range of diagnostics to assess the multicollinearity among the variables.

• Path model analysis: SMART-PLS enables users to create path models and test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.

• Bootstrapping: SMART-PLS uses the bootstrap method to generate bootstrap samples and estimate the standard errors and confidence intervals of the model coefficients.

• Visualization: SMART-PLS allows users to generate various graphical outputs, such as path diagrams, structural equation models, and factor loadings plots.

• Latent variable modelling: SMART-PLS can be used to model latent variables, which are unobserved variables that represent underlying constructs that cannot be directly measured.

• Partial Least Squares Regression: SMART-PLS also supports Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), which is a multivariate statistical technique used for regression analysis when there are high correlations between the predictors.

• Data preprocessing: SMART-PLS can preprocess the data, including data cleaning, transformation, and normalization, before conducting the PLS-SEM analysis.

• Advanced analyses: SMART-PLS can perform advanced analyses, such as multi-group analysis, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis, to test more complex relationships between the variables.

• Nonlinear PLS: SMART-PLS can perform Nonlinear PLS (NPLS) analysis, which allows users to model nonlinear relationships between the variables.

• Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA): SMART-PLS can generate IPMA, which is a graphical tool to assess the importance and performance of the constructs in a model.

There are so many similarities between them, isn’t it? I also thought the same! Now, when I researched more on these, then I finally found the right choice. So, what have I researched? 

First, I have got an overview of the types of data analysis for dissertations such as descriptive and inferential statistics, content, discourse, grounded theory, ethnographic and case study analysis so that I can understand which one is essential to conduct data analysis and which one is not. 

Now, after that, we need to identify the strategy to analyse data in a dissertation in order to choose the perfect software for us because the software will be chosen based on the strategy. So, let us know the strategies also.

The strategy for analyzing data in a dissertation will depend on several factors, such as the research question, research design, the type of data being collected, and the chosen data analysis method.

However, here are some general steps to consider when analyzing data for a dissertation:

• Organize and clean the data: This involves checking for missing data, outliers, and inconsistencies, and cleaning the data as needed. It is important to ensure that the data is accurate and ready for analysis.

• Choose the appropriate data analysis method: This involves selecting the appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis method that aligns with the research question and data type. It is important to have a good understanding of the different data analysis methods available and their strengths and weaknesses.

• Conduct the data analysis: This involves conducting the selected data analysis method, whether it's using statistical software or manually analyzing qualitative data. This step should be guided by the research question and the type of data being analyzed.

• Interpret the results: This involves interpreting the results of the data analysis, whether it's identifying patterns or making inferences based on statistical tests. It is important to relate the findings to the research question and to draw conclusions from the data.

• Report the findings: This involves reporting the findings of the data analysis in the dissertation, using appropriate tables, graphs, and narrative descriptions. It is important to clearly communicate the findings and their implications for the research question and the field of study.

• Discuss the limitations: This involves discussing the limitations of the data analysis and the implications for the findings. It is important to acknowledge any potential sources of bias or errors in the data analysis and to consider the implications for the research question.

Now, after gaining so much knowledge, the main question comes which is how to choose which software is the best for you. So, let us dive into this.

Choosing between AMOS and SMART-PLS software for data analysis will depend on several factors such as your research question, type of data, research design, and level of expertise.

Here are some considerations to help you make the best choice:

• Research question: Both AMOS and SMART-PLS are suitable for structural equation modelling (SEM), but they differ in their approach to modelling. AMOS is more suitable for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis, whereas SMART-PLS is better suited for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least squares (PLS) path analysis. Consider which type of analysis is most relevant to your research question.

• Data type: SMART-PLS can handle both reflective and formative measurement models, while AMOS is better suited for reflective measurement models. Reflective measurement models assume that all variables are caused by a common underlying factor, while formative measurement models assume that the variables cause the underlying factor. Consider which type of measurement model best fits your data.

• Research design: AMOS is a stand-alone program, while SMART-PLS is an add-in for Excel. AMOS offers more flexibility in model specification and estimation, while SMART-PLS offers more user-friendly interfaces and graphics. Consider which software is better suited to your research design and level of expertise.

• Expertise: AMOS requires more expertise in SEM and statistical analysis, while SMART-PLS is more user-friendly and requires less expertise. Consider your level of expertise and comfort with statistical analysis when choosing between the two software programs.

I hope you have got your answer. It completely depends on your requirements when choosing a software. If you still haven’t got your answer, you can comment below so that we can clarify your doubts.

Thank you for your time.