The Essence of Multivariate Thinking ― Basic Themes and Methods

By focusing on underlying themes, this book helps readers better understand the connections between multivariate methods. For each method the author highlights: the similarities and differences between the methods, when they are used and the questions they address, the key assumptions and equations, and how to interpret the results. The concepts take center stage while formulas are kept to a minimum. Examples using the same data set give readers continuity so they can more easily apply the concepts. Each method is also accompanied by a worked out example, SPSS and SAS input, and an example of how to write up the results. EQS code is used for the book’s SEM applications.

This extensively revised edition features:

• New SEM chapters including an introduction (ch.10), path analysis (ch.11), confirmatory factor analysis (ch.12), and latent variable modeling (ch.13) the last three with an EQS application.
• A new chapter on multilevel modeling (ch. 8) that is now used more frequently in the social sciences.
• More emphasis on significance tests, effect sizes, and confidence intervals to encourage readers to adopt a thorough approach to assessing the magnitude of their findings.
• A new data set that explores the work environment.
• More discussion about the basic assumptions and equations for each method for a more accessible approach.
• New examples that help clarify the distinctions between methods.
• A new website that features the datasets for all of the examples in the book for use in both SPSS and SAS and in EQS for the SEM chapters, and Power Points for each chapter.

The first two chapters review the core themes that run through most multivariate methods. The author shows how understanding multivariate methods is much more achievable when we notice the themes that underlie these statistical techniques. This multiple level approach also provides greater reliability and validity in our research. After providing insight into the core themes, the author illustrates them as they apply to the most popular multivariate methods used in the social, and behavioral sciences. First, two intermediate methods are explored – multiple regression and analysis of covariance. Next the multivariate grouping variable methods of multivariate analysis of variance, discriminant function analysis, and logistic regression are explored. Next the themes are applied to multivariate modeling methods including multilevel modeling, path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and latent variable models that include exploratory structural methods of principal component and factor analysis. The book concludes with a summary of the common themes and how they pertain to each method discussed in this book.

Intended for advanced undergraduate and/or graduate courses in multivariate statistics taught in psychology, education, human development, business, nursing, and other social and life sciences, researchers also appreciate this book‘s applied approach. Knowledge of basic statistics, research methods, basic algebra, and finite mathematics is recommended.

Lisa L. Harlow is a professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island.