Multilevel Structural Equation Modelling

The primary objective of this course is to provide participants with a proper understanding and the practical skills necessary for applying advanced techniques in structural equation modeling for hierarchically ordered twolevel data. Core topics of the course include random intercept & slope models, contextual effect models, twolevel path models, twolevel confirmatory factor analyses and twolevel structural equation models. In order to put these different techniques to practice, participants will also become proficient in the use of the Mplus statistical software. This course is at an advanced to intermediate level. In other words, it is designed for application-oriented participants who are already familiar with the basics of SEM (e.g. conducting and interpreting a confirmatory factor analysis) plus, ideally, multilevel analysis (e.g. conducting and interpreting a random intercept model), and would now like to expand their scope. To facilitate the transfer of theoretical knowledge into participants’ own research, a large part of the course will be devoted to systematic exercises using freely available survey data. Participants are encouraged, however, to also use their own data.

Course leader

Elmar Schlueter University of Cologne

Target group

advanced students and junior researchers in political science and adjacent disciplines

Course aim

as above