Introduction to Multilevel Analysis

About

The benefits of multilevel analysis are discussed both in theory as with empirical examples. This course restricts to a quantitative (i.e. continuous) outcome variable. Categorical outcomes are part of the course Advanced Multilevel.

Social research often involves problems that investigate the relationship between individual and society. The general concept is that individuals interact with the social contexts to which they belong, meaning that individual persons are influenced by the social groups or contexts to which they belong, and that the properties of those groups are in turn influenced by the individuals who make up that group.

Generally, the individuals and the social groups are conceptualized as a hierarchical system of individuals and groups, with individuals and groups defined at separate levels of this hierarchical system. The appropriate analysis technique for such a hierarchical system is multilevel analysis. The benefits of multilevel analysis are discussed both in theory as well as with empirical examples. Attention will also be paid to the multilevel approach to longitudinal data analysis. Intensive longitudinal data analysis is not part of this course.

This course is based on the book:
Hox, J., Moerbeek, M., & Van de Schoot, R. (2018). Multilevel Analysis: Techniques and Applications (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
The book is not required for participation and not included in the fee (about €45).
Participants who are employed at Utrecht University can download the book for free from the library’s website

Participants are requested to bring their own laptop computer. R and R Studio should be installed on your laptop before the start of the course.

Course leader

Dr. Mirjam Moerbeek

Target group

(Master) Students or (post-graduate) researchers who already have a basic knowledge of regression analysis (i.e. previously completed a bachelor level introductory course in multivariate analysis techniques). Prior knowledge of R is not needed

We also offer tailor-made M&S courses and in-house M&S training. If you want to look at the possibilities, please contact Dr. Laurence Frank at pe.dsai@uu.nl.

Course aim

Participants will learn the theoretical basics of multilevel modeling and some important methodological and statistical issues. They will also learn how to analyze multilevel data sets with the R and R Studio programmes, to interpret the output and to report the results.

Fee info