Example of an HCM2 analysis

From the WHLM window, open the File menu and choose Create a new model using an existing MDM file to open an Open MDM File dialog box.

Open the existing MDM file (attain.mdm in our example).

After selection of the MDM, file, the list of level-1 variables is displayed on the left side of the main WHLM window. Click on the name of the outcome variable (ATTAIN in our example) and select Outcome variable from the pop-up menu.

The unconditional model will appear in equation format as shown below.

The next step is to set up the level-1 model. The variables available for inclusion are:

• ATTAIN, a measure of educational attainment
• P7VRQ, denoting primary 7 verbal reasoning quotient
• P7READ, denoting primary 7 reading test scores
• DADOCC, indicating the father’s occupation scaled on the Hope-Goldthorpe scale in conjunction with the Registrar General’s social-class index (Willms, 1986)
• DADUNEMP, an indicator for father’s unemployment status (1 if unemployed, 0 otherwise)
• DADED, an indicator for father’s educational level (1 if schooling past the age of 15, 0 otherwise)
• MOMED, an indicator for mother’s educational level (1 if schooling past the age of 15, 0  otherwise)
• FEMALE, an indicator for student gender (1 if male, 0 if female)

Click on the variable P7VCRQ from the list of variables at the left of the screen, and select the add grand-mean centered option from the pop-up menu as shown.

The following model is now displayed in the main window. Note that, by clicking the Mixed button at the bottom of the main window, the complete model can also be displayed in mixed model notation, which shows the model as a single equation including all effects from the various levels.

Add the level-1 variables P7READ, DADOCC, DADUNEMP, DADED, MOMED, and MALE in the same way as P7VRQ to obtain the following model:

In the interest of parsimony, given the small cell sizes and within-neighborhood sizes, all level-1 coefficients are fixed. (To specify any of them as randomly varying, select the equation containing a specific regression coefficient, , and click on .

To set up the level-2 row-factor prediction model, select the equation containing . A list box for row-factor variables (>>Row<<) will appear. Click DEPRIVE and apply the grand-mean centering scheme.

to obtain the model shown below.

The model can now be saved using the Save As option on the File menu. This enables the user to recall this model and make further modifications to it at a later date. To run the analysis, the Run Analysis option on the main WHLM window is clicked.