Applied Statistics for Educational Researchers (DUH165)
This seminar course provides an introduction to the software programs Mplus and R, with a focus on latent variable modeling. We will cover topics such as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, along with relevant psychometric theory. You will learn how to import, visualize, describe, and analyze real-world datasets and conduct analyses using Mplus and appropriate R codes.
Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.
Course code
DUH165
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
5
Semester tution start
Spring
Number of semesters
1
Exam semester
Spring
Language of instruction
English
Content
Learning outcome
By the end of this course, PhD candidates will have acquired the following knowledge:
Knowledge
- An understanding of basic measurement theory.
- A solid grasp of multiple regression and factor analysis within the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.
- A clear comprehension of hierarchical structures in data and methods to analyze them effectively.
- A good understanding of SEM and latent growth curve (LGC) models in the context of complex survey data.
Skills
- Conducting preliminary analyses to assess the validity and reliability of data.
- Performing SEM and LGC analyses using Mplus or R.
- Preparing the results of these analyses for publication.
General Competencies:
- Ability to choose and apply the appropriate analyses for the given design and data.
- Development of advanced strategies for future quantitative research.
Required prerequisite knowledge
Recommended prerequisites
The students are expected to have the software package Mplus or R installed on their personal computers. It is beneficial to have some familiarity with the data structure of one's own projects and the potential research questions. It is advantage to get acquainted with Mplus or R before the course in order to master preparation of the data for import (for Mplus syntax, please see chapters 1 + 2 in Muthén & Muthén).
Exam
| Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 1/1 | Passed / Not Passed |
Evaluation will be based on a brief individual paper. The paper should contain a short thematic conceptualization, research questions, a section presenting sample and procedure, analytic strategies, and results, and be no longer than 4000 words +/-10% (references excluded). Coursework requirements: Active participation in lectures and seminars at the workshop. Self-study. The students’ workload will be approximately 150 hours of work.
Coursework requirements
80 % attendance
At least 80 % attendance in lectures and seminars.
Course teacher(s)
Course coordinator:
Lene VestadCourse teacher:
Simona Carla Silvia CaravitaCourse teacher:
Njål FoldnesCourse teacher:
Thormod IdsøeStudy Program Director:
Hein BerdinesenCourse teacher:
Ulrich DettweilerMethod of work
In this week-long seminar, we will introduce confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) structural equation modeling (SEM), and multilevel modeling work within the SEM framework. The seminar also demonstrates how Latent Growth Curve Modelling can be understood as an extension of SEM with intercepts and/or slopes being modeled as latent variables, first as an unconditional latent curve model. We will then look at conditional Latent Growth Curve models (including mediation models, and a comparison of (latent) groups with different approaches to testing measurement invariance. The latter will also be replicated and shown in R.
The working format is a blending of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on analyses in Mplus/R.
Overlapping courses
| Course | Reduction (SP) |
|---|---|
| Advanced Statistics for Educational Researchers: Analyzing Structural Equation Models and Latent Growth Curves w/ MPlus (DSP165_1) | 5 |