A consumer's guide to causal modeling: Part II

Causal modeling is a widely used technique for specifying a system of relationships among theoretical constructs. However, there are cautions or limitations that must be considered with this technique. Consumers of research that uses causal modeling techniques must evaluate the model testing results on several levels before using the findings in future research or in practice. A good fit between the model and the data does not necessarily mean that all the relationships are as posited. For the researcher intending to use causal modeling in an appropriate study, the most serious limitation of the technique is the large number of subjects required for the analysis, resulting in expensive and logistically complex studies. However, given the nature of many of the phenomena of interest to nursing, causal modeling often proves to be a highly useful technique for knowledge development.