Who is the course aimed at?
This course is aimed at two distinct groups. It is primarily designed as a beginners'
course in multi-level modelling (AKA Hierarchical Linear Modelling), for those who face the
challenge of working with multi-level data sets and want to be able to analyse them in the
most powerful and accurate way.
However it should also appeal to those with a little
experience of multi-level modelling using other specialist
packages who now want to learn how to run such models in SPSS using the MIXED MODELS menu and commands.
Course level:
A reasonable working knowledge of multiple regression and some previous experience of using
SPSS to perform statistical analysis is expected. No previous experience of multi-level modelling will be assumed.
Course content and aims:
The course will cover the following topics:
Introduction to multi-level data - what it is and why it requires special treatment
Restructuring Data in preparation for multi-level modelling
What is a multi-level model?
Building and fitting a multi-level model in SPSS: testing fixed effects
Building and fitting a multi-level model in SPSS: testing random effects
Further issues in multi-level modelling: centering, sample size and scaling
Advanced multi-level models: analysing longitudinal data and cross-sectional data using
multi-level modelling in SPSS
The course comprises of a mixture of short lectures on the
basic theory behind multi-level models, teaching via examples worked through by
the trainer on real data sets which participants can follow, and exercises to practice the
skills just learned. You will also receive a 80-page coursebook containing all the notes and worked examples,
providing an easy reference and reminder for the techniques you have learned.
Course schedule:
The course will start at 9.00am, with a lunch break from 1pm-1.45pm, and short coffee breaks
at 11.15am and 3.30pm. It will finish at approximately 5.30pm.
The teacher:
Dr Chris Stride has been using
Mplus, SPSS and R in his work as a statistician and data manager for the last 20 years.
He has particular experience and expertise in teaching non-statisticians from the fields of psychology, HR, management
and the social sciences. Chris is a Chartered Statistician and a member of the
ASSESS (UK SPSS Users' Group) Committee; and has run over 150 public training courses
around the world, as well as for the UK SPSS users group, at national and international conferences, and on an inhouse basis for Universities and the public sector.
