Modeling Multilevel Data Structures

Marco R. Steenbergen, Bradford S. Jones
2002 American Journal of Political Science  
Although integrating multiple levels of data into an analysis can often yield better inferences about the phenomenon under study, traditional methodologies used to combine multiple levels of data are problematic. In this paper, we discuss several methodologies under the rubric of multilevel analysis. Multilevel methods, we argue, provide researchers, particularly researchers using comparative data, substantial leverage in overcoming the typical problems associated with either ignoring multiple
more » ... evels of data, or problems associated with combining lower-level and higherlevel data (including overcoming implicit assumptions of fixed and constant effects). The paper discusses several variants of the multilevel model and provides an application of individual-level support for European integration using comparative political data from Western Europe.
doi:10.2307/3088424 fatcat:y3vcbftn5bdnjdrghxpyn274r4