title: Demonstration of software programs for estimating multilevel measurement model parameters.
abstract: A brief overview of the relevant parameterizations of the Rasch measurement model will first be provided. Next, the use of five different hierarchical linear modeling software programs (SAS, MLWIN, S-PLUS, R and HLM) using a heuristic data set will be demonstrated. For each program, researchers will be offered: 1) instructions describing the way to set up data sets, as well as 2) directions for running each program, 3) guidelines to assist with the appropriate interpretation of the output. Last, testing of the local independence assumption will be discussed. All data and code for each of the models run in this analysis may be downloaded from the website: http://www.hlm-online.com/papers/mmmpaper.htm/.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM 155, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jroberts@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: J Kyle
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Rich
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrington
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D012984:Software