Skip to main content icon/video/no-internet

Mixed Model Design

Mixed model designs are an extension of the general linear model, as in analysis of variance (ANOVA) designs. There is no common term for the mixed model design. Researchers sometimes refer to split-plot designs, randomized complete block, nested, two-way mixed ANOVAs, and certain repeated measures designs as mixed models. Also, mixed model designs may be restrictive or nonrestrictive. The restrictive model is used most often because it is more general, thus allowing for broader applications. A mixed model may be thought of as two models in one: a fixed-effects model and a random-effects model. Regardless of the name, statisticians generally agree that when interest is in both fixed and random effects, the design may be classified as a mixed model. Mixed model analyses are used to study research problems in a broad array of fields, ranging from education to agriculture, sociology, psychology, biology, manufacturing, and economics.

Purpose of the Test

A mixed model analysis is appropriate if one is interested in a between-subjects effect (fixed effect) in addition to within-subjects effects (random effects), or in exploring alternative covariance structures on which to model data with between-and within-subjects effects. A variable may be fixed or random. Random effects allow the researcher to generalize beyond the sample.

Fixed and random effects are a major feature distinguishing the mixed model from the standard repeated measures design. The standard two-way repeated measures design examines repeated measures on the same subjects. These are within-subjects designs for two factors with two or more levels. In the two-way mixed model design, two factors, one for within-subjects and one for between-subjects are always included in the model. Each factor has two or more levels. For example, in a study to determine the preferred time of day for undergraduate and graduate college students to exercise at a gym, time of day would be a within-subjects factor with three levels: 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.; and student classification as undergraduate or graduate would be two levels of a between-subjects factor. The dependent variable for such a study could be a score on a workout preference scale. A design with three levels on a random factor and two levels on a fixed factor is written as a 2 × 3 mixed model design.

Fixed and Random Effects

Fixed Effects

Fixed effects, also known as between-subjects effects, are those in which each subject is a member of either one group or another, but not more than one group. All levels of the factor may be included, or only selected levels. In other words, subjects are measured on only one of the designated levels of the factor, such as undergraduate or graduate. Other examples of fixed effects are gender, membership in a control group or an experimental group, marital status, and religious affiliation.

Random Effects

Random effects, also known as within-subjects effects, are those in which measures of each level of a factor are taken on each subject, and the effects may vary from one measure to another over the levels of the factor. Variability in the dependent variable can be attributed to differences in the random factor. In the previous example, all subjects would be measured across all levels of the time-of-day factor for exercising at a gym. In a study in which time is a random effect and gender is a fixed effect, the interaction of time and gender is also a random effect. Other examples of random effects are number of trials, in which each subject experiences each trial or each subject receives repeated doses of medication. Random effects are the measures from the repeated trials, measures after the time intervals of some activities, or repeated measures of some function such as blood pressure, strength level, endurance, or achievement. The mixed model design may be applied when the sample comprises large units, such as school districts, military bases, and universities, and the variability among the units, rather than the differences in means, is of interest. Examining random effects allows researchers to make inferences to a larger population.

...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles

Sage Recommends

We found other relevant content for you on other Sage platforms.

Loading