The heterogeneity problem in meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) revisited: A reply to Cheung

Yu, Downes, Carter, and O'Boyle (2016) introduce a new technique to incorporate effect size heterogeneity into meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) labeled full information metaanalytical structural equation modeling (FIMASEM). Cheung's (2018) commentary raises concerns about the viability of FIMASEM and provides its initial validation. In this reply, we briefly respond to those concerns noting how they relate to Yu et al.'s original conclusions, general MASEM practices, and operational decisions within the FIMASEM procedure. We synthesize Cheung's criticisms and build on his findings to lay out a research agenda for the future of MASEM and the role that our technique might play in it. In doing so, we clarify the conceptual nature of FIMASEM, identity inferential mistakes that current MASEM studies are likely to make, and offer specific and actionable recommendations in terms of the types of research questions FIMASEM is best suited to address and how FIMASEM results can best be interpreted and reported.