1

2

Making the MDM file. For any given set of variables, you only need to do this once. But if you need to add a variable, you will need to repeat the process. HLM cannot transform variables (e.g., a square of a variable), so if you need a transformed variable in your analysis, it must be included in the set of variables read into HLM.

3

ASCII Input is a text file. Stat Package Input is easier. With the student version, use SPSS .sav files. With the regular version Excel files can be read.

4

5

More on missing data at the end of the handout.

As far as I can tell, selecting measures within persons just changes the notation in the GUI.

6

7

Clicking Browse opens a WINDOWS dialog Box

8

9 9

10

This is a fragment of the level-1 file that will be read into HLM. I included it so you can see what the file looks. It would not be displayed in the process of creating the mdm file. The variable named ID a school (level-2 unit). It need not be called ID. Note that the file is sorted by ID.

11 11

12

13

14

15

16 16

`

17

This is a fragment of the level-2 file that will be read into HLM. I included it so you can see what the file looks. It would not be displayed in the process of creating the mdm file. The variable named ID is a school (level-2 unit). It need not be called ID. Note that the file is sorted by ID and includes the mean of SES.

18

19

20

21

22

Clicking Save mdmt file opens a WINDOWS dialog Box

23

24 24

25

26

This screen is displayed for a few seconds.

27

28

These results should be compared with the descriptive statistics produced by SPSS from the files you read into HLM. If there is not agreement, something may have gone wrong in reading the data. This a Notepad file. You may want to save this file under a new name for future reference.

29 29

30

The >> << indicates that the level-1 variables are showing. After selecting level-1 variables for the model, clicking level-2 displays the level-2 variables

31 31

32

33

This operation is optional

34

35

This operation is optional

36 36

37

38

Produces a Windows dialog box to save your program.

39 39

40

This box will flash by indicating the program is running. After it runs click

file and view output

41

42

Creating a new model from an old mdm file

43 43

44 44

45

You can create a new model

46

Running an old model or revising an old model

47

You can re-run or revise the existing model.

48

You can edit an existing file. This can be useful if you work on different machines and the drive labels vary across the machines. However if the drive labels change across machines, the GUI will give you error messages and you can change the labels through the GUI.

49

50

This is an example of the GUI when persons-within-measures is selected. See page 5 Note the change in the notation. Compare to page 33.

51How HLM handles Missing Data

HLM2 handles missing data at level-1 of the hierarchy as follows:

Observations with missing data will be deleted using listwise deletion at either

the MDM creation stage or when the analysis is run.

The Make MDM dialog box for 2-level (HLM2) allows the chooser to two

between these options.

• If deletion at the MDM creation stage is chosen, listwise deletion is

performed based on the level-1 variables selected for inclusion in the

MDM file. Listwise deletion means that if there were any missing

scores in a row of the SPSS level-1 file on the variables selected

52inclusion in the MDM file, that row of data will be deleted when the

MDM file is created.

• If deletion at the analysis stage is chosen, listwise deletion is

performed based on the variables included in the actual model to be

run. Listwise deletion means that if there were any missing scores in a

row of the SPSS level-1 file on the variables selected inclusion in the

analysis, that row of data will be deleted when the analysis is

conducted.

Clearly deletion at the analysis stage is the better option.

Failure to acknowledge missing data.

If you have missing data but do not select yes, you get this message

Missing data found at level-1, unable to continue.

Non-matching Levl-1 and Level-2 Files

If you have cases in the level-1file for which there is not a matching ID in the

level-2 file, the ids without the match will be deleted and the deleted ids will

be identified in the file that is displayed when you click check stats:

Group 52 not in level-2 file.

Group 173 not in level-2 file.

Group 180 not in level-2 file.

53If you have cases in the level-2 file for which there is not matching ID in the

level-1, the ids without the match will be deleted but there is no listing of the

ids that are deleted.