Partial least squares (PLS) is an approach to structural equation
modeling (SEM) that is extensively used in the social sciences to
analyze quantitative data. However, PLS has not been as readily
adopted in the accounting discipline. A review of the accounting
literature found 20 studies in a subset of accounting journals that used
PLS as the data analysis tool. PLS allows researchers to analyze the
measurement model simultaneously with the structural model and
allows researchers to adopt more complex research models with both
moderating and mediating relationships. This paper assists accounting
researchers that may be interested in adopting PLS as an analysis
tool. We explain the benefits of using PLS and compare and contrast
this analysis approach with both ordinary least squares regression and
covariance-based SEM. We also explain how the PLS algorithm works
to derive estimates for the measurement and structural models. To
further assist researchers interested in using PLS, we offer guidelines
in the development of research models, analysis of the data, and the
interpretation of these results with PLS. We apply these guidelines to
the accounting studies that have used PLS and offer further
recommendations about how researchers could apply PLS in future
accounting research.