Centre for Multilevel Modelling (CMM)
Aims
The Centre’s core aims are to:
- Develop statistical methods to better represent the complexity of educational and social processes.
- Develop software tools to implement new methods (including MLwiN and the new STAT-JR software system).
- Illustrate the application of new methods to address research questions in education, demography, psychology and public health.
- Build capacity in secondary data analysis via training workshops and extensive online materials.
Audience and impact
The Centre’s audience includes quantitative researchers from around the world.
The MLwiN software developed by the Centre has over 10,000 users worldwide. Users include the Department for Education and other UK government departments, AQA examination board, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and the National Foundation for Educational Research.
The LEMMA online course, launched in 2008, has over 8000 users and the Centre co-hosts the PLASC/NPD users’ group (PLUG)
Research methodologies and questions
The Centre has diverse research interests in education and across the social and health sciences. Areas of current interest include:
- Evaluation of Government school performance measures of educational attainment and progress.
- The relative importance of family, school and neighbourhood on children’s educational progress, separating “nature” and “nurture” effects of the family.
- The relationships between changes in individuals’ physical and mental functioning over time and changes in their socio-economic circumstances.
- Methods for the analysis of longitudinal data.
