O’Connell & McCoach (Eds.) (2008): Multilevel Modeling of Educational Data

Today, Michael and I enjoy reading “Multilevel Modeling of Educational Data” edited by Ann A. O’Connell & D. Betsy McCoach. For anyone interested to becoming familiar with multi-level modeling, we especially recommend the following articles:

• “Modeling Growth Using Multilevel and Alternative Approaches” by Janet K. Holt (pp. 111-159): Janet gently explains data requirements and assumptions as well as forms of data (multivarite/wide data layout vs. person-period/long data layout). In addition, Table 4.5 (pp. 154-155) provides a consice overview to strengths and limitations of three alternative growth curve modeling methods.
• “Reporting Results from Multilevel Analyses” by John M. Ferron et al. (pp. 391-426): John and several other colleagues provides a valuable guideline and many suggestions for what to present when reporting results from multilevel analysis and how to present these results (text vs. tables vs. figures).
• “Software Options for Multilevel Models” by J. Kyle Roberts and Patrick McLeod (pp. 427-467): Kyle and Patrick provide a well organized, brief explanations of the most popular multilevel software packages (MLwiN, HLM, SAS, S-PLUS, R, SPSS, Mplus, and STATA).