# WLS estimator and bootstrapping in sem package

Is there a way to run the sem function (R sem package) by using WLS method?

Furthermore I have a very small data set (20 observations), can I overcome this problem by using a bootstrapping technique?

• Although it is painfully popular to do so, bootstrapping does in no way guarantee good results for small sample sizes. Bootstrapping is asymptotic theory, that just has been proven to give reliable results in some (very) finite cases. – Nick Sabbe Jul 13 '11 at 12:09
• @Nick I think bootstrap was invented to give better estimates in small sample size problems, hence the name. If you bootstrap, then you reach asymptotics. Bootstrap is a way to "create" asymptotics, and must be done is small sample size studies to get better estimates of the parameter and standard deviation. – suncoolsu Jul 13 '11 at 14:33
• @suncoolsu To nitpick: If you bootstrap, then you hope that you create a world similar to asymptotics. ;) Your point is well taken though; the bootstrap works incredibly well and has a pretty solid theoretical foundation at this point. But in a complicated latent variable model like SEM I'd be skeptical of any analysis based on 20 honest to goodness observations, personally. – JMS Jul 13 '11 at 14:40
• @JMS I agree, very well said. I also agree that no procedure (even a sound one like bootstrap) can extract more information than what is in the data. I would definitely bootstrap in a SEM model, but trusting the results with this sample size is an example of positivism. – suncoolsu Jul 13 '11 at 14:45
• Do you have observed variables only, or latent ones as well? At any rate, with such a tiny sample size, I would only run regression analysis, if it is at all applicable to your situation. – StasK Aug 10 '11 at 14:37