Multilevel analysis concerns the modeling of hierarchically structured data. These kinds of data are frequently encountered in many areas of (social) scientific research. Hierarchically structured data are characterized by so-called “nested” membership relations among the units of observation. For instance, students are nested within classes, which are nested within schools, or employees are nested within departments. Traditional, “single level”, data analysis methods fail when data are hierarchically structured, because the nested structure causes intra-class correlation among the observations within units at the higher level. As a result, the assumption of independence is violated.
Multilevel analysis is a class of methods employing hierarchical linear regression models that explicitly take into account the hierarchical data structure. It provides researchers with a flexible and powerful set of tools with respect to both model formulation and hypothesis testing. Multilevel analysis proves to be statistically more precise. Also, it has been argued that multilevel models are conceptually uplifting.
Coordinator
Dr. M. van der Leeden
Room 3B21
Tel.: +31 (0)71 527 3763
E-Mail: vanderleeden@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Aims
The multilevel analysis course provides students with a basic understanding of the so called random coefficient model, which can be regarded as one of the key models in multilevel modeling. Additionally, students acquire basic skills in the application of the software package MLwiN, one of the major programs for multilevel analysis.
Literature
- Kreft, I, & De Leeuw, J. (1998). Introducing Multilevel Modelling. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Suggested reading
- Hox, J. (2002). Multilevel Analysis. Techniques and Applications. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. (Ch 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10)
Examination
Graded assignments during course and one final assignment.
From January 1, 2006 the Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted the Ephorus system to be used by instructors for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. Please see the Additional Rules and Regulations, section 6.
Education method(s)
Lectures and software demonstrations.
Enrolment
Introduction and enrolment for courses of the first semester will take place August 27th 2009. Introduction and enrolment for courses of the second semester will take place in January 2010. More information will be available at the website of the Institute of Psychology.
NB: Exam and re-exam registration will take place via U-Twist, and will be open between a month and a week before the (re)exam. Students who haven’t registered, cannot participate in the (re)exam.