forum.smartpls.com

Good morning,
I have a subject to study in which I have latent variables that are associated with items and latent variables that are associated with these latent variables but are not determined from the items but only linked to the latent variables.
The problem I have encountered is that smart pls throws me a message mentioning that the said variable that is latent is not defined.
I'm wondering if there is a possibility to integrate intermediate latent variables that are only related to latent variables.
thanks

I think what you are looking for is the concept of higher-order constructs. Please read the following articles:

Becker, J.-M., K. Klein, and M. Wetzels (2012). Formative Hierarchical Latent Variable Models in PLS-SEM: Recommendations and Guidelines, Long Range Planning, 45 (5/6), 359-394.
Sarstedt, M., J. F. Hair, J.-H. Cheah, J.-M. Becker, and C.M. Ringle (2019). How to Specify, Estimate, and Validate Higher-order Constructs in PLS-SEM. Australasian Marketing Journal, 27 (3), 197-211.