Multilevel Modeling: A Second Course - Online Course
A 4-Week On-Demand Seminar Taught by
Kristopher PreacherEach Monday you will receive an email with instructions for the following week. All course materials are available 24 hours a day. Materials will be accessible for an additional 2 weeks after the official close on November 13.
Hierarchically clustered (multilevel or nested) data are common in the social sciences, medical fields, and business research. Clustered data violate the assumption of independence required by ordinary statistical methods. Increasingly complex research designs and hypotheses have created a need for sophisticated methods that go beyond standard multilevel modeling (MLM).
This “second course” in MLM will introduce a variety of MLM extensions, including cutting-edge multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to handle complex designs and modeling objectives. Throughout the seminar, empirical examples will be presented to illustrate key concepts. A background in structural equation modeling (SEM) is not necessary.
The course takes place online in a series of four weekly installments of videos, quizzes, readings, and exercises, and requires about 8 hours/week. You may participate at your own convenience; there are no set times when you are required to be online.
This four-week course can be accessed with any recent web browser on almost any platform, including iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. It consists of 11 modules:
- Review of multilevel modeling (MLM) and Mplus
- Univariate MLM and estimating, plotting, and probing interaction effects
- Modeling discrete dependent variables
- Power analysis for MLM
- Modeling cross-classified data
- Overview of single-level SEM and orientation to Mplus for SEM
- Multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) overview, equations, and path diagrams
- Orientation to Mplus for MSEM
- Multilevel path analysis, multilevel confirmatory factor analysis, and model fit in MSEM
- Multilevel exploratory factor analysis, general multilevel SEM with latent variables, and multilevel mediation
- Three-level models in MLM vs. MSEM and multilevel reliability estimation
The modules contain videos of the live, 4-day livestream version of the course in its entirety. Each module is followed by a short multiple-choice quiz to test your knowledge. There are also weekly exercises that ask you to apply what you’ve learned to a real data set.
There is also an online discussion forum where you can post questions or comments about any aspect of the course. All questions will be promptly answered by Dr. Preacher.
More details about the course content
We will begin the seminar by reviewing the basics of MLM, including:
-
- The motivation for MLM
- Key concepts
- Equation conventions
- The univariate two-level MLM with fixed and random coefficients
Mplus will be introduced as a flexible and powerful software environment for fitting basic and advanced multilevel models. Next, we will cover several advanced MLM topics, including:
-
- Estimating, plotting, and probing interaction effects
- Modeling cross-classified data
- Modeling discrete (e.g., binary, count) dependent variables
- Conducting power analysis for MLM using a general Monte Carlo technique
- Fitting multivariate multilevel models
Next, multilevel structural equation modeling will be introduced as a general approach for more complex modeling tasks. After a brief overview of single-level SEM, we will turn to the development of MSEM and the important advantages of MSEM over MLM (e.g. inclusion of latent variables, complex causal pathways, upper-level outcomes, and model fit assessment). Standard SEM and MLM will be recast as special cases of MSEM. Next we will cover a variety of MSEM topics:
-
- Multilevel exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
- Multilevel path analysis
- Multilevel structural models with latent variables
- Multilevel mediation analysis
- Multilevel reliability estimation
- Applications to cross-classified and three-level data
Throughout the course, models will be presented in several formats—path diagrams, equations, and software syntax. Data and Mplus syntax for all of the examples will be included in the workshop materials.
Participants in this seminar can expect to gain:
-
- Mastery of advanced topics in MLM.
- A deeper understanding of the relationship between MLM and SEM.
- The ability to use multilevel SEM to test complex structural hypotheses.
- Resources to conduct power analysis for virtually any multilevel design.
- The ability to fluently interpret and translate among path diagrams, model equations, and Mplus syntax for advanced MLM and MSEM.
- Documented Mplus syntax templates for fitting a variety of multilevel models.
We will begin the seminar by reviewing the basics of MLM, including:
-
- The motivation for MLM
- Key concepts
- Equation conventions
- The univariate two-level MLM with fixed and random coefficients
Mplus will be introduced as a flexible and powerful software environment for fitting basic and advanced multilevel models. Next, we will cover several advanced MLM topics, including:
-
- Estimating, plotting, and probing interaction effects
- Modeling cross-classified data
- Modeling discrete (e.g., binary, count) dependent variables
- Conducting power analysis for MLM using a general Monte Carlo technique
- Fitting multivariate multilevel models
Next, multilevel structural equation modeling will be introduced as a general approach for more complex modeling tasks. After a brief overview of single-level SEM, we will turn to the development of MSEM and the important advantages of MSEM over MLM (e.g. inclusion of latent variables, complex causal pathways, upper-level outcomes, and model fit assessment). Standard SEM and MLM will be recast as special cases of MSEM. Next we will cover a variety of MSEM topics:
-
- Multilevel exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
- Multilevel path analysis
- Multilevel structural models with latent variables
- Multilevel mediation analysis
- Multilevel reliability estimation
- Applications to cross-classified and three-level data
Throughout the course, models will be presented in several formats—path diagrams, equations, and software syntax. Data and Mplus syntax for all of the examples will be included in the workshop materials.
Participants in this seminar can expect to gain:
-
- Mastery of advanced topics in MLM.
- A deeper understanding of the relationship between MLM and SEM.
- The ability to use multilevel SEM to test complex structural hypotheses.
- Resources to conduct power analysis for virtually any multilevel design.
- The ability to fluently interpret and translate among path diagrams, model equations, and Mplus syntax for advanced MLM and MSEM.
- Documented Mplus syntax templates for fitting a variety of multilevel models.
Computing
In the videos, Mplus will be used for all worked examples, but prior knowledge of Mplus is not essential. You are welcome and encouraged to use a computer with Mplus installed (including either the multilevel or combination add-on). However, this is not required. You will still benefit from the comprehensive set of slides and syntax that you can apply at a later time.
If you’d like to familiarize yourself with Mplus basics before the seminar begins, we recommend reading through UCLA’s short guide here.
In the videos, Mplus will be used for all worked examples, but prior knowledge of Mplus is not essential. You are welcome and encouraged to use a computer with Mplus installed (including either the multilevel or combination add-on). However, this is not required. You will still benefit from the comprehensive set of slides and syntax that you can apply at a later time.
If you’d like to familiarize yourself with Mplus basics before the seminar begins, we recommend reading through UCLA’s short guide here.
Who should register?
This seminar is designed for researchers who have some prior experience with multilevel modeling (e.g., in a seminar, workshop, or course) and who want to deepen and extend their knowledge. At a minimum, participants should have a good working knowledge of basic principles of statistical inference (e.g. standard errors, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals), and should also have a good understanding of the theory and practice of linear regression.
This seminar covers much of the same content as Kristopher Preacher’s 6-day livestream Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling seminar.
This seminar is designed for researchers who have some prior experience with multilevel modeling (e.g., in a seminar, workshop, or course) and who want to deepen and extend their knowledge. At a minimum, participants should have a good working knowledge of basic principles of statistical inference (e.g. standard errors, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals), and should also have a good understanding of the theory and practice of linear regression.
This seminar covers much of the same content as Kristopher Preacher’s 6-day livestream Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling seminar.
Registration instructions
The fee of $695 (USD) includes all course materials. All major credit cards are accepted.
This course is hosted on a platform called DigitalChalk. To register, you’ll need to go to statisticalhorizons.digitalchalk.com and click on Create Account. Then you will enter your name and email address, and create a password. Be sure to save your password because you will need it to logon to the course itself.
When you have created your account, you’ll be taken to your new home page. Click on the Register Now button (or click the Catalog icon on the left-hand column), and you’ll see “Multilevel Modeling: A Second Course” as one of the available courses. At the bottom of the box for that course, click the green button Add to Cart. Next click the green button at the top that says Checkout. You will then be prompted for your credit card information.
When you have finished the payment process, you will be taken back to your home page. Click on Dashboard to see Multilevel Modeling: A Second Course. When the course begins on October 16, you can click the play button to get started.
The fee of $695 (USD) includes all course materials. All major credit cards are accepted.
This course is hosted on a platform called DigitalChalk. To register, you’ll need to go to statisticalhorizons.digitalchalk.com and click on Create Account. Then you will enter your name and email address, and create a password. Be sure to save your password because you will need it to logon to the course itself.
When you have created your account, you’ll be taken to your new home page. Click on the Register Now button (or click the Catalog icon on the left-hand column), and you’ll see “Multilevel Modeling: A Second Course” as one of the available courses. At the bottom of the box for that course, click the green button Add to Cart. Next click the green button at the top that says Checkout. You will then be prompted for your credit card information.
When you have finished the payment process, you will be taken back to your home page. Click on Dashboard to see Multilevel Modeling: A Second Course. When the course begins on October 16, you can click the play button to get started.