Application of SPSS linear mixed methods to adolescent development research: basic concepts and steps

Abstract

In the context of intervention research, it is always important to ask whether the growth of the participants in the intervention group is superior to that of the control group participants. Although this question can be answered by analyses based on traditional generalized linear models, there are many problems associated with such analyses. Alternatively, individual growth curve (IGC) modeling analyses based on linear mixed methods (LMM) are proposed. Although LMM are available in generic computer software, such as SPSS, there is a paucity of user-friendly manuals and illustrations. To help researchers utilize SPSS in creating IGC models, we present in this paper the basic concepts of IGC modeling and of the process of using SPSS to conduct IGC.

Emotion dysregulation and heart rate variability improve in US veterans undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Secondary exploratory analyses from a randomised controlled trial

“…Between-subjects variables were group (CPT, SKY; coded − 0.5, + 0.5 for ease of interpretation [54,55]), self-reported ER (DERS Total and all subscales), and physiological ER (HR max-min, LF/HF, RMSSD, SDNN, normalised/absolute HF-HRV, LF peak, LF-HRV). Time was mean centred [54][55][56][57] and outliers (≥ ±3 SD) were Winsorized and replaced with the next highest value (× 2 for each of the HRV indices), per recommendations [58]. As all repeated measures had only two time points (baseline, end-oftreatment), we tested only the simplest covariance structure (compound symmetry [CS]; [56]).…”

“…Time was mean centred [54][55][56][57] and outliers (≥ ±3 SD) were Winsorized and replaced with the next highest value (× 2 for each of the HRV indices), per recommendations [58]. As all repeated measures had only two time points (baseline, end-oftreatment), we tested only the simplest covariance structure (compound symmetry [CS]; [56]).…”

The Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: Work Done and Lessons Learned in a Decade

“…These included: the need for developmental assets and programs (issue 1); theoretical bases and research support for the programs (issue 2); program designers and implementers needed for positive youth development programs (issue 3); making important decisions on training programs (issue 4); maintenance of quality of program implementation (issue 5), evaluation strategies for evaluation of the effects of the program (issue 6); and sustainability of developed programs and their effects (issue 7). Regarding statistical analyses issues, it is obvious that the use of longitudinal data and the use of 33,34 In her doctoral thesis on the Project P.A.T.H.S., Wu 35 pointed out the "sparks" conurtured by the students and the teachers in reviewing their learning journey of the P.A.T.H.S. curriculum.…”

Tobacco smoking may delay habituation of reinforcer effectiveness in humans

“…This analysis method required estimation of several models (Shek & Ma, 2011; Shek & Ma, 2014). First, a null model was estimated without predictors from either level to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).…”

“…Lastly, an exploratory follow up model examined whether rates of responding were related to self-reported MNWS withdrawal scores collected immediately before participants worked on the operant responding task. All models were computed using maximum likelihood (ML) estimation (Shek & Ma, 2014).…”