Institute of Education Sciences

Some statistical models used in education research are complex. This complexity arises in part because the data structures that underlie these statistical models involve multiple nested (i.e., cross-classified multilevel models) and non-nested groupings (i.e., partially-nested designs). Another source of complexity in these models results from the fact that key variables, such as student achievement, can be measured only indirectly and are represented in the model by latent variables.