Linear Mixed Models: A Practical Guide Using Statistical Software

by Brady T. West, Kathleen B. Welch, Andrzej T Galecki

Simplifying the often confusing array of software programs for fitting linear mixed models (LMMs), Linear Mixed Models: A Practical Guide Using Statistical Software provides a basic introduction to primary concepts, notation, software implementation, model interpretation, and visualization of clustered and longitudinal data. This easy-to-navigate reference details the use of procedures for fitting LMMs in five popular statistical software packages: SAS, SPSS, Stata, R/S-plus, and HLM. The authors introduce basic theoretical concepts, present a heuristic approach to fitting LMMs based on both general and hierarchical model specifications, develop the model-building process step-by-step, and demonstrate the estimation, testing, and interpretation of fixed-effect parameters and covariance parameters associated with random effects. These concepts are illustrated through examples using real-world data sets that enable comparisons of model fitting options and results across the software procedures. The book also gives an overview of important options and features available in each procedure. Making popular software procedures for fitting LMMs easy-to-use, this valuable resource shows how to perform LMM analyses and provides a clear explanation of mixed modeling techniques and theories.

Genres: Mathematics, Science

374 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2006

Reviews

[Jackson Twait · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my homies hate linear mixed models. 5 stars though

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm of two minds on how to rate this. On the one hand the writing is very clear, the book is extensive in its examples and discussion of the differences in statistical software. And I might have liked the book more if I actually needed any of the software in this book other than R.

My low rating is largely due to the lack of practice problems at all. I think it is strange to have a technical book without any problem set whatsoever. I do not expect the book to have problems for doing the math per se, that is not really what the book is about. But the book would benefit greatly from very short "Check your understanding problems" or some high quality true or false questions.

The chapter summaries are really halfhearted and hardly touch on any of the important topics discussed in the book.

The authors are very knowledgeable and I've learned a lot from reading this book. I just wish they had made it easier for me to do so!