I am new to Path Analysis and ESM. I have been doing reading on this method, but still feel very much confused.
I have a empirically evaluated failure model having 45 variables connected with each other in a cause and effect model. In my models, there are total 40 failure paths. The longest paths have as many as 7 variables.
After evaluating the failure models, I have measured each variable through a questionnaire survey and have received a total of 50 replies. Now, I am wondering if this sample size is enough to perform Path Analysis to evaluate the "strongest failure paths"? or to perform SEM if I am attaching 5 latent variables to my model? One of my friends suggested to use PLS techniques by using software 'SmartPLS" as it is less data sensitive.