Five-day Course • June 1–5, 2009 • Lawrence, Kansas

Presented by the Quantitative Psychology Training Program of the Department of Psychology at the
University of Kansas

• Objectives
• Audience
• Instructors
• Software and Computer Support
• Syllabus
• Contact Information

Institute Overview

This intensive short course in the fundamentals of multilevel modeling (MLM) consists of a series of lectures and computer practica covering the theory and practice of methods for analyzing hierarchically organized data. Through didactic group lectures and one-on-one training with software, participants will learn how to design multilevel studies, estimate and interpret random effects, model longitudinal data, center predictors, conduct multiparameter tests, and analyze cross-classified and multiple-membership data. MLM has many applications across the fields of psychology, education, sociology, political science, business, public administration, and other areas.

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Objectives

The institute on Multilevel Modeling will enable participants to:

• Acquire a basic understanding of multilevel modeling techniques as applied in the social and behavioral sciences.
• Develop a clear understanding and appreciation of the conceptual and mathematical bases of MLM.
• Gain knowledge of the ways in which one should formulate models, test alternative models, and evaluate models with regard to statistical and practical significance.
• Become acquainted with a variety of models that are special cases of the basic multilevel model (e.g., random effects ANOVA and ANCOVA).
• Become proficient in the use of the program LISREL 8.8x for analysis of multilevel models.

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Audience

This course will be helpful for researchers with a basic background in statistics and want to learn how to analyze nested or hierarchically ordered data sets (for example: students within schools, employees within organizations, and repeated measures within people). You should have a good working knowledge of the principles and practice of multiple regression and elementary statistical inference. You do not need to know matrix algebra, calculus, or likelihood theory, although that knowledge would be beneficial.

Participants from a variety of fields— including sociology, psychology, education, human development, marketing, business, biology, medicine, political science, and communication— will benefit from the course.

The course will emphasize LISREL 8.8x. Some assistance will be available for questions related to other multilevel modeling packages. No previous knowledge of LISREL is assumed. Furthermore, nearly all the techniques taught in the course can be translated fairly easily to most other packages.

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Instructor

Kristopher J. Preacher, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of quantitative psychology at the University of Kansas. He holds a Ph.D. in quantitative psychology from Ohio State University, and served for three years as an NRSA postdoctoral research fellow in quantitative psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He conducts research and publishes on multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, and other advanced regression techniques.

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Syllabus

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Software and Computer Support

Participants should bring a laptop computer. Before arriving for the summer institute, participants should acquire the rental version of LISREL 8.8x, download the fully functional 15-day trial version of LISREL 8.8x, or acquire the free student edition of LISREL 8.8x for use during the Institute. We have a special arrangement with e-academy that gives participants a reduced rate on the one-year rental version of LISREL 8.8x. Specific instructions on how to receive the discount will be sent to all registered participants approximately three weeks prior to the start of the institute. If you choose to download the trial version, please note that it is different from the free student version downloadable directly through Scientific Software (SSI); the free student version limits the number of variables to 15, but this limitation will not affect the illustrative examples used during the Institute.

In addition to a course packet, you will receive a CD containing all course materials, including PowerPoint slides, LISREL scripts, output files, relevant supporting documentation, and recommended readings.

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Contact Information

For information on course content, contact Kristopher J. Preacher preacher@ku.edu.

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