Multilevel Modeling Using R

A powerful tool for analyzing nested designs in a variety of fields, multilevel/hierarchical modeling allows researchers to account for data collected at multiple levels. Multilevel Modeling Using R provides you with a helpful guide to conducting multilevel data modeling using the R software environment.

After reviewing standard linear models, the authors present the basics of multilevel models and explain how to fit these models using R. They then show how to employ multilevel modeling with longitudinal data and demonstrate the valuable graphical options in R. The book also describes models for categorical dependent variables in both single level and multilevel data. The book concludes with Bayesian fitting of multilevel models. For those new to R, the appendix provides an introduction to this system that covers basic R knowledge necessary to run the models in the book.

Through the R code and detailed explanations provided, this book gives you the tools to launch your own investigations in multilevel modeling and gain insight into your research.

W. Holmes Finch is a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, where he teaches courses on factor analysis, structural equation modeling, categorical data analysis, regression, multivariate statistics, and measurement to graduate students in psychology and education. Dr. Finch is also an Accredited Professional Statistician (PStat^®). He earned a PhD from the University of South Carolina. His research interests include multilevel models, latent variable modeling, methods of prediction and classification, and nonparametric multivariate statistics.

Jocelyn E. Bolin is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, where she teaches courses on introductory and intermediate statistics, multiple regression analysis, and multilevel modeling to graduate students in social science disciplines. Dr. Bolin is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the American Statistical Association and is an Accredited Professional Statistician (PStat^®). She earned a PhD in educational psychology from Indiana University Bloomington. Her research interests include statistical methods for classification and clustering and use of multilevel modeling in the social sciences.

Ken Kelley is the Viola D. Hank Associate Professor of Management in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Kelley is also an Accredited Professional Statistician (PStat^®) and associate editor of Psychological Methods. His research involves the development, improvement, and evaluation of quantitative methods, especially as they relate to statistical and measurement issues in applied research. He is the developer of the MBESS package for the R statistical language and environment.