Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Training for all Pathways
Date and time: Tuesday 14 May 2019, 9.00am – 5.30pm
Location: Computer room 3.02, Information Commons, University of Sheffield
Multilevel models allow researchers to use data that has a multilevel structure, such as pupils within schools, individuals within neighbourhoods, or longitudinal panel data where observations are nested within individuals. A failure to take account of such structures can lead to results that are not only biased or anticonservative, but also missing important aspects of the societal processes they are trying to uncover. This course will build on standard regression models to provide an introduction to 2-level multilevel models that can be used in a range of disciplines across the social sciences and beyond.
Participants will gain experience using relatively simple multilevel models, and be pointed to resources for more complex models.
Workshop leader
Dr Andrew Bell is a Lecturer in Quantitative Social Sciences and the Director of the WRDTP Advanced Qualitative Methods Training and Development Group. Andy was a lecturer at the University of Bristol, where he also completed his undergraduate degree (in Geography) and PhD (in Advanced Quantitative Methods). Andy’s research interests include multilevel modelling, longitudinal modelling, mental health and wellbeing, life course research, political science, social epidemiology.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to implement multilevel models for data with two levels and a continuous Y variable. This will include random intercept models, and random slopes models, that allow the effect of a variable to vary across higher-level units.
- Learn how to use the MLwiN software to implement multilevel models
- Learn how to produce a range of plots to visualise multilevel effects
Programme
| 9.00am – 9.30am | REGISTRATION | |
| 9.30am – 10.15am | Lecture | Multilevel modelling: the concepts, and the alternatives |
| 10.15am – 11.00am | Lecture | Running simple multilevel models (null models; random intercepts; higher level predictors; concepts; VPC; variance, residuals, etc.) |
| 11.00am – 12.30pm | Practical | MLwiN, Random Intercepts, Higher level predictors
· Coefficients and Standard errors · Caterpillar plot · Varying line plot · Calculate the VPC |
| 12.30pm – 1.30pm | LUNCH | |
| 1.30pm – 2.30pm | Lecture | Random slopes |
| 2.30pm – 3.30pm | Practical | Random slops
· Caterpillar plots · Varying line plot · Model comparison |
| 3.30pm – 4.00pm | BREAK | |
| 4.00pm – 4.30pm | Lecture | Variance functions |
| 4.30pm – 5.00pm | Practical | Variance functions
· Variance function plots |
| 5.00pm – 5.30pm | Wrap up | Further learning: level 1 complex variance, cross level interactions, categorical X, non-continuous Y, MCMC, non-nested structures, other software, other resources (LEMMA practicals) |
PLEASE NOTE: Students are responsible for arranging travel to and from this AQM training session. The WRDTP cannot reimburse travel costs in this instance.
