Frank Henry, Multivariate Analysis and Ordinal Data, American Sociological Review, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Apr., 1982), pp. 299-304 ...

An alternative model for ordinal traits is the so-called multivariate model or cumulative threshold model, in which we formulate the ordinal trait analysis as a multivariate problem.

While path analysis has great advantages for bridging the gap between sociological theory and statistical analysis, a major obstacle is the requirement that interval scales be assumed for the data.