In the social sciences, phenomena tend to be hierarchically structured, so that individuals belong to groups, and groups belong to larger organizations and societies. Multilevel research stresses this hierarchical structure of social life, and necessarily assumes the existence of a particular organization of the procedures of investigation. This organization, which is fundamental to the research, is called a research design. Because the research is hierarchical, it uses a multilevel design.

This book provides a detailed overview of the theoretical and methodological aspects of multilevel research based on the multilevel definition of social structure. Six chapters discuss the foundations of multilevel research and the applications of its research in the social sciences. An annotated bibliography follows, which is divided into eight sections on theoretical and methodological issues and on applications of multilevel research. Included are books and articles published from 1980 through 1993.

Zusammenfassung
Because the research is hierarchical, it uses a multilevel design. This book provides a detailed overview of the theoretical and methodological aspects of multilevel research based on the multilevel definition of social structure.

Inhalt

Preface Principles Introduction; Approach Theory Model Procedure Multilevel Theories and Their Explanations of Contextual Effects Introduction Conforming Choosing Meeting chances Adapting Retrospective The Multilevel Design Introduction Types of fallacies Research problem and conceptual model Operationalization Observation of Group Characteristics Typology construction, analysis, and interpretation Conclusion Interpretation of an Analytical Group Characteristic Introduction Social climate Material culture Network structure Frog-pond effect Subgroups Peer group Social structures out of the context Conclusion Multilevel Design in Evaluation Research Introduction The structure of evaluation research Multilevel research An example Conclusion Further Developments of Multilevel Research Applications of multilevel research Trends and prospects References Annotated Bibliography of Multilevel Research 1980-1993 Theoretical issues in multilevel research Methodological issues in multilevel research Applications in educational research Applications in studies of voting behaviour Applications in studies of deviant behaviour and healthcare Applications in studies of organizations Applications in studies of spatial contexts Miscellaneous Author Index Subject Index Title Index