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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fall 2006 Psychology 930: Longitudinal Data Analysis

 

 



Instructor:

Dr. Lesa Hoffman

Email:

lhoffman2@unlnotes.unl.edu

Rooms:

77 (234, 227) Burnett Hall

Phone:

(402) 472-6930

Time:

M W 10:30-11:45

Office:

220 Burnett Hall (mailbox in 237)

Credits: 3 Office Hours:
M W 1:30-2:30 and by appointment
   

Extra Lab Hours:

M F 8:30-10:00 and by appointment


Tentative Schedule of Events: Printable Course Syllabus (last updated 10/09/06)

Links under topics below are .pdf files for the lecture materials.
Versions of the .pdf files including the answers will be available after each class under "answers".
Audio links are .mp3 files taped from the class lecture.

Week Date Topic Readings & Manuals
1a 8/21 Course Introduction and Conceptual Overview of MLM S & B ch. 1-2
1b 8/23 Lecture: Review of General Linear Model
Example: Interpreting Interactions in Multiple Regression
Excel calculator for Interactions in Regression
S & W ch. 1-2
       
2a 8/28 Meet in 234 Lab - Intro to SAS Data Management and Description  (answers) SAS Guide
2b 8/30 Meet in 234 Lab - In-Class Activity for SAS Data Manipulation  (answers)  
       
3a 9/04 No Class - Labor Day  
3b 9/06 Lecture: Intro to Longitudinal Random Effects Models
Example: Predicting Individual Random Effects  (answers)
R & B ch. 4
Singer (1998)
       
4a 9/11 Meet in 234 Lab - Intro to SAS Plotting (audio) SAS Plotting Guide
(see Blackboard)
4b 9/13 Review: MLM Vocabulary Exercise  (answers) 
Lecture: Modeling Change Part 1: Polynomial Time-in-Study Models  
Willett (1989)
S & W ch. 3-4
       
5a 9/18 Assignment #1 is due in class on Monday 9/18/06
Lecture: Fun with Model Comparisons  (audio)
Example: Polynomial Models for Practice Effects  (answers) (audio1) (audio2)
Rovine & Molenaar (1998)
5b 9/20 Lecture: Modeling Change Part 2: Piecewise Time-in-Study Models 
Example: Piecewise Models for Practice Effects   (answers) 
Excel Calculator for Predicted Means, CI's, and Sample Table
Hernandex et al. (2004)
S & W ch. 5-6
       
6a 9/25

Feedback on Assignment 1
Meet in 234 Lab - In-Class Activity for Modeling Change 
(includes SAS Code for Plotting Observed vs. Predicted Trajectories)

Quick Reference to SAS MIXED and SPSS MIXED

Don't Need to Print!
SAS MIXED Manual
SPSS MIXED Manual
6b 9/27 Lecture: Missing Data in MLM; Time-Invariant Predictors  (audio)
Example: Time-Invariant Predictors of Practice Effects  (answers)  (audio1)
Schafer & Graham (2002)
       
7a 10/2

Please return the Mid-Semester Evaluation
Will finish examples from 5b and 6b so please bring them back to class!
(Catch-up Audio1) (Catchup-Up Audio 2)
Lecture: Modeling Change Part 3: Alternative Metrics for Time 
(audio1)
(audio2)

S & B ch. 3-4

7b 10/4

Example: Evaluating Alternative Metrics for Time  (answers)  (audio1) 
Excel calculator for Predicted Trajectories

Sliwinski et al. (2003)

       
8a 10/09

Revisions of Assignment #1 are due by Monday 10/9/06
Meet in 234 Lab
- In-Class Activity for Alternative Metrics for Time 
(answer files)
(audio)

 
8b 10/11

Alternative Metrics for Time Example, continued

 
       
9a 10/16

No Class - Fall Break

 
9b 10/18

Lecture: Mid-Semester Review; Alternative Covariance Structures (audio1)
Example: Alternative Covariance Structures for Within-Person Variation or Change over Time

S & B ch. 12
S & W ch. 7
M & D ch. 13-15

       
10a 10/23

Continued Alternative Covariance Structures Lecture (audio2) and Example (audio1) (audio2) (audio3)

Wallace & Green (2002)
10b 10/25

Meet in 227 Lab - In-Class Activity for Alternative Covariance Structures

 
       
11a 10/30

Lecture: The Joy of Time-Varying Predictors  (audio1) (audio2)

S & B ch. 5-7, 9
R & B ch. 9

11b 11/01 Assignment #2 is due in class on Wednesday 11/01/06
Example: Time-Varying Predictors of Within-Person Variation  (audio1)  (audio2)
Kreft et al. (1995)
       
12a 11/06

Feedback on Assignment 2
Example: Time-Varying Predictors of Within-Person Change - Fixed Version (answers) (audio1)

Sliwinski & Buschke (2004)
12b 11/08

Example continued (audio2)  (audio3)

       
13a 11/13

Order and Criteria for Final Presentation and Paper
Meet in 234 Lab
- In-Class Time to Work on Assignment #3

 
13b 11/15

Lecture: Reviewing the Multilevel Analysis: A Greatest Hits Collection (audio)

 
       
14a 11/20

No Class - Assignment #3 and Revisions of Assignment #2
are due by 12:00 PM on Tuesday 11/21/06 in my Burnett 237 mailbox

 
14b 11/22

No Class - Thanksgiving Break

 
       
15a 11/27

Feedback on Assignment 3
Lecture: Preview of MLM Part 2 (coming Spring, 2007)  (audio)

 
15b 11/29

Student Presentations 1-5

 
       
16a 12/04

Student Presentations 6-10

 
16b 12/06

Revisions of Assignment #3 are due by Wednesday 12/6/06
Student Presentations 11-15

 
       
17 12/15

No more classes!
Tips on Equations for Final Paper
Final papers are due by 5:00 PM on Friday 12/15/06 in my 237 mailbox

 

Course Objectives and Pre-Requisites:

This course will illustrate the uses of the General Linear Mixed Model (aka Multilevel Model, Hierarchical Linear Model) for longitudinal data analysis. The course is organized to take participants through each of the steps in a longitudinal (multilevel) analysis: deciding which type of model is appropriate, setting up the data file and coding variables, evaluating fixed and random effects and/or alternative covariance structures, predicting between- and within-person variation using covariates, interpreting and displaying empirical findings, and presenting results in both verbal and written form. Class time will be devoted primarily to lectures and examples. Lecture materials will be available for download at the website above the day prior to class, or else copies will be provided in class.  Because the course will have an applied focus, course sessions will also be held in the 233-234 Burnett computer lab (see syllabus for dates), in which participants will have opportunities for hands-on practice and to work on course assignments. Although SPSS syntax will be provided where applicable, SAS will be the main program utilized, and lab time will also be used to orient participants to data manipulation, analysis, and graphing in SAS.

Participants should be familiar with the General Linear Model (ANOVA, Regression) prior to enrolling in this course. Previous familiarity with the General Linear Mixed Model is helpful, but not required. Participants need to have access to SAS software, but no prior knowledge of SAS is necessary. Finally, participants are strongly encouraged to use a longitudinal data set within their substantive area for course assignments , but practice data sets can also be made available. A longitudinal data set with 3 or more time points is needed for all assignments, and must contain two continuous outcome variables and two predictor variables, at least one of which must be time-varying.

Course Requirements:

Course performance will be evaluated as follows. Details about each requirement will be presented throughout the semester prior to the due dates.

Final Project:

Participants will write a core of an empirical article describing their findings, due by 5:00 PM on Monday, 12/11/06 (30 points). Participants are welcome to submit prior drafts, but final papers cannot be revised. Participants will also present these results in a brief in-class talk at the end of the semester (10 points).

Intermediate Assignments:

Three assignments will be administered in order to give participants the opportunity to apply techniques discussed in class to their own data (and to serve as the foundation for the final project). Each assignment will be worth 12 or 24 points and will be due as listed on the syllabus unless otherwise stated. Because the course material will build on earlier concepts, late assignments will be docked .5 points per business day in order to encourage participants to keep up with the course. If you have a scheduling conflict that will prevent you from turning in an assignment on time, please contact me at least two weeks in advance to make arrangements. Assignments will be accepted via email as needed, but hard copy is preferred. Each assignment can be revised once and re-graded in order to earn the maximum possible points, but points lost to lateness cannot be returned. Please turn in the original assignment with the revised assignment.

Assignment #1 (due 9/18/06)    Feedback on Assignment 1

Assignment #2 (due 11/01/06)  Feedback on Assignment 2

Assignment #3 (due 11/20/06)  Feedback on Assignment 3

Final grades for Psychology 930 will be determined according to the proportion earned of 100 possible points:

≥97=A+   93-96=A   90–92=A-   87-89=B+   83-86=B   80-82=B-   77-79=C+    73-76=C    70-72=C- …

Academic Honesty:

A s a reminder, the University has a policy on academic honesty (see the Graduate Studies Bulletin). Although data sets may be shared, all course assignments should be done individually and all analyses should be unique.

Accommodating Disabilities:

Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible, so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunity.

Course Texts:

Primary: S & B : Snijders, T. A. B., & Bosker, R. (1999). Multilevel analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Secondary: S & W : Singer, J. D., & Willett, J. B. (2003). Applied longitudinal data analysis: Modeling change and event occurrence. New York: Oxford University Press.

Other: R & B : Raudenbush, S. W., & Bryk, A. S. (2002). Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Other: M & D : Maxwell, S. E., & Delaney, H. D. (2004). Designing experiments and analyzing data . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

These supplementary readings will also be available online through course documents on UNL Blackboard:

Hernandez-Lloreda, M. V., Colmenares, F., & Martinez-Arias. (2004). Application of piecewise hierarchical linear growth modeling to the study of continuity in behavioral development of Baboons (Papio hamadryas). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 118(3), 316-324.

Kreft, I. G. G., de Leeuw, J., & Aiken, L. S. (1995). The effect of different forms of centering in hierarchical linear models. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 30(1), 1-21.

Rovine, M. J., & Molenaar, P. C. M. (1998). The covariance between level and shape in the latent growth curve model with estimated basis vector coefficients. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 3(2), 95-107.

Schafer, J. L., & Graham, J. W. (2002). Missing data: Our view of state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7(2), 147-177.

Singer, J. D. (1998). Using SAS PROC MIXED to fit multilevel models, hierarchical models, and individual growth models. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 24(4), 323-355.

Sliwinski, M. J., Hofer, S. M., Hall, C. B., Buschke, H., & Lipton, R. B. (2003a). Modeling memory decline in older adults: The importance of preclinical dementia, attrition, and chronological age. Psychology and Aging, 18(4), 658-671.

Sliwinski, M. J., & Buschke, H. (2004). Modeling intraindividual cognitive change in aging adults: Results from the Einstein Aging Studies. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 11(2-3), 196-211.

Wallace, D., & Green, S.B. (2002). Analysis of repeated measures designs with linear mixed models. In D.S. Moskowitz & S.L. Hershberger (Eds.), Modeling intraindividual variability with repeated measures data (pp. 103-134). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Willett, J.B. (1989). Some results on reliability for the longitudinal measurement of change: Implications for the design of studies of individual growth. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 49, 587-602.

Recommended books on programming:

SPSS:

Boslaugh, S. (2005). An intermediate guide to SPSS programming: Using syntax for data management . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

SAS:

Delwiche, L.D., & Slaughter, S.J. (1998). The little SAS book: A Primer (2nd Ed.). Cary, NC: SAS Institute.

Cody, R.P., & Smith, J.K. (1997). Applied statistics and the SAS programming language. Prentice Hall.

Burlew, M.M. (1998). SAS macro programming made easy . Cary, NC: SAS Institute.