Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM)
An advanced statistical method that accounts for data that is organized at more than one level, such as respondents within different regions.
Implications
A statistical technique used to analyze data with a nested structure, such as students within schools or employees within companies, allowing for the estimation of relationships at both the individual and group levels, often used in education, sociology, and healthcare research.
Example
Example: An educational researcher uses Hierarchical Linear Modeling to study the effects of teacher quality on student performance, accounting for the fact that students are nested within different classrooms and schools.
Related Terms
Different from simple linear regression, which treats all data points as independent, HLM accounts for the hierarchical structure of the data, providing more accurate estimates when data is nested.