Multilevel Linear

Modeling/Hierarchical Linear
Modeling
By: Amanda Richmond
 Multilevel Linear Modeling and Hierarchical Linear
Modeling is used to describe nested data
What is Multilevel (multileveled).
Linear The term nested refers to data that falls within a
Modeling/Hierarchical greater unit.

Linear Modeling? For example, individual student information is seen as

nested data, with the greater unit being the overall
classroom.
 Does knowing a persons gender help us in
Research understanding his or her growth from age 8 to age 14,
as measured by the distance variable?
Question?
 Before running the analysis, we first want to generate
the descriptive statistics. This is done using the
following steps:
1. Select Analyze, Descriptive Statistics and then
Step 1: Explore

Descriptive 2. Select Distance as the dependent variable and Age for

the factor list
Statistics 3. Once Both is selected in the display field, click Ok and
then interpret results
Generating
Descriptive
Statistics
 Descriptive
Statistics Results
 Now we will conduct the analysis using the following
steps:
1. Select Analyze, Mixed Models, and then Linear.
2. Highlight Subject and move it to the Subjects.
Step 2: 3. Highlight Age (Age in years) and move it into the
Data Analysis Repeated.
4. Click on the arrow next to Repeated covariance type,
and change Diagonal to specify AR(1).
Data Analysis
 Click on Distance and move it into the Dependent
Variable.
Click on Linear and move it into the Covariate( s).
Click on Quadratic and move it into the Covariate( s).
Click on Fixed.

Data Analysis Click on the arrow next to Factorial and change

Factorial to Main Effects.

Click on Linear and then on Add.

Repeat this for quadratic. Leave the defaults for the other
options.

Click Continue
Data Analysis
 In the Linear Mixed Models window click on
Random.
Under Random Effects check the box next to Include
intercept.

Under Subject Groupings, move Subject into the

Combinations.
Data Analysis Click on Continue.
Click on Statistics. Select Parameter estimates, Test
for covariance parameters, Covariance's of random
effects, and Contrast coefficient matrix.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis
Results
 Intercept
L1
Fixed Effects Intercept 1
linear 0
quadratic 0

linear

Data Analysis Fixed Effects Intercept

linear
L2
0
1

Results quadratic 0

quadratic
L3
Fixed Effects Intercept 0
linear 0
quadratic 1
 Estimates of Fixed Effectsa
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Upper
Parameter Estimate Std. Error df t Sig. Bound Bound
Intercept 22.160222 .488661 42.062 45.349 .000 21.174107 23.146337
linear .971889 .432638 78.554 2.246 .027 .110668 1.833110
quadratic .115741 .137928 78.973 .839 .404 -.158799 .390281
a. Dependent Variable: Distance (mm) from center of pituitary to pteryo-maxillary fissure.

Estimates of Covariance Parametersa

Data Analysis Parameter Estimate Std. Error Wald Z Sig.

95% Confidence Interval
Lower
Bound
Upper
Bound

Results Repeated Measures AR1 diagonal

AR1 rho
Intercept [subject = Variance
2.108872
.047132
.398324
.172662
4.423253 1.398723
5.294
.273
3.162
.000
.785
.002
1.456382
-.283972
2.379986
3.053691
.368194
8.220705
subject]
a. Dependent Variable: Distance (mm) from center of pituitary to pteryo-maxillary fissure.

Random Effect Covariance

Structure (G)a
Intercept |
subject
Intercept | subject 4.423253
Variance Components
a. Dependent Variable: Distance
(mm) from center of pituitary to
pteryo-maxillary fissure.
So how does There are more
this relate to
gender? steps..
 Select Analyze , Mixed Models. Linear
Click on Continue
Move Gender into the Factors
Click on Fixed
Click to change Main Effects to Factorial
Step 3: Click on Build nested terms

Data Analysis Click on linear and click on the curved arrow to add it
to the build terms box.
Click on By to add the multiplication symbol
Click on gender and click on the curved arrow to move
it into the box.
Data Analysis
Data Results
Data Results
Data Results
 Step 4:
Result
Interpretation
The End