Kline R B
Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
J Clin Psychol. 1991 Jul;47(4):471-84. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(199107)47:4<471::aid-jclp2270470402>3.0.co;2-o.
Latent variable path analysis (LVPA) is undoubtedly one of "the" new statistical techniques being used increasingly often by clinical researchers. Although well suited for some types of clinical research, LVPA can be a somewhat intimidating technique for novices. This work is intended to provide a non-mathematical introduction to the advantages and problems of LVPA for clinical researchers who are not yet familiar with this powerful procedure. The conceptual bases of LVPA, its relation to other statistical techniques, and possible uses and misuses in clinical research are considered. Many practical recommendations for the appropriate use of LVPA also are offered, as is a suggested reading list for researchers who wish to learn more about LVPA and related approaches.
潜在变量路径分析（LVPA）无疑是临床研究人员越来越频繁使用的“新”统计技术之一。尽管LVPA非常适合某些类型的临床研究，但对于新手来说，它可能是一种有点令人生畏的技术。这项工作旨在为尚未熟悉这一强大程序的临床研究人员提供关于LVPA的优势和问题的非数学介绍。文中考虑了LVPA的概念基础、它与其他统计技术的关系以及在临床研究中可能的用途和误用。还提供了许多关于正确使用LVPA的实用建议，以及一份建议阅读清单，供希望更多了解LVPA及相关方法的研究人员参考。
