What is it? Mplus analyzes Structural Equations Models (SEM) that can include both continuous and categorical latent constructs. As their website states, it can also analyze “both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, single-level and multi-level data, and data that come from different populations with either observed or unobserved heterogeneity. Analyses can be carried out for observed variables that are continuous, censored, binary, ordered categorical (ordinal), unordered categorical (nominal), counts, or combinations of these variable types.” 

What can I use it for? Enrolled students, faculty, and staff can use Mplus for university-related teaching and academic research purposes. Use that benefits outside organizations requires the purchase of a commercial license.

Where can I run it? For UTK, Mplus is available on OIT’s Apps@UT server and on the computers in the OIT public computer labs. Up to four people can run it at the same time. 

How can I learn it? There are short courses at the Muthén & Muthén website, and general SEM information is at SEMNET. To learn Mplus, we also recommend the program’s help files. 

Where can I get support? OIT offers Minimal Support to University of Tennessee, Knoxville-area students, faculty, and staff for this software. For assistance, contact the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900.

Updated 02/09/2023