Structural equation modelling (SEM) can illuminate complex interaction networks of the sort
found in ecology. However, selecting optimally complex, data‐supported SEM models and
quantifying their uncertainty are difficult processes. To this end, we recommend a formal
model selection approach (MSA) that uses information criteria. Using a suite of numerical
simulations, we compare MSA‐SEM against two traditional methods. We find that MSA‐SEM
exhibits superior, unbiased results under the suboptimal realistic conditions characteristic of …