Using Multivariate Statistics

What it’s about

Using Multivariate Statistics is an essential, comprehensive resource for any researcher or student navigating the complex world of advanced statistical analysis. It demystifies a wide array of techniques—from multiple regression and MANOVA to structural equation modeling and multilevel modeling—by focusing on practical application rather than dense mathematical theory. The book guides you through the entire research process, starting with crucial data screening procedures to ensure the integrity of your results, moving through the selection of the appropriate statistical test for your research question, and culminating in the detailed interpretation of computer output from popular software like SPSS and SAS. With its clear explanations, numerous examples, and focus on both the 'why' and the 'how,' this book empowers you to confidently analyze complex data, avoid common pitfalls, and produce sound, publishable research.

The through-line

Who it’s for

A researcher, graduate student, or analyst who possesses a complex dataset and wants to conduct sound, publishable research. They have mastered basic statistics but are now faced with multiple independent and/or dependent variables and feel uncertain about how to proceed to answer more sophisticated, real-world research questions.

The problem

The reader needs to analyze a complex dataset with multiple correlated variables but doesn't know which statistical technique to use, how to perform it correctly in software like SPSS or SAS, or how to interpret the complex output. The reader feels overwhelmed, intimidated, and uncertain about their ability to conduct advanced statistical analyses, fearing they will make a mistake, violate assumptions, misinterpret their results, and produce flawed or unpublishable research.

The plan

1. Use the guide in Chapter 2 to select the correct multivariate technique for your research question.
2. Follow the detailed data screening procedures in Chapter 4 to prepare your data for analysis by checking for accuracy, handling missing data, identifying outliers, and testing assumptions.
3. Execute and interpret the analysis by following the step-by-step, real-world examples in the relevant technique chapters (5-16).

The payoff

Confidently choose and apply the correct multivariate statistical methods to any dataset. · Produce statistically sound, robust, and defensible research findings. · Understand and interpret complex statistical output, translating it into meaningful conclusions.

See our guide

• The Four-S Discipline — One System, Four Capabilities →
• See How The Pieces Connect — Models That Link Drivers To Outcomes →
• Study People And Organizations With Scientific Rigor →
• Choose And Apply The Right Analytical Method →
• The Behavioral Science Underneath It All →
• Build A People Analytics Function →
• Choose The Right Lens — Multivariate Statistical Analysis: PCA, Factor, Cluster, Discriminant, MANOVA And Friends →
• Design The Organization And Change It →
• Do Research That Holds Up →
• Design Surveys People Answer Honestly →
• Understand What Drives Individual Performance →

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Additional reading

• Experimental Design and Analysis · Lee, W.

  The book borrows a figure from this text to provide an intuitive graphical explanation of how ANCOVA reduces error variance, suggesting it as a useful resource for design principles.

• Multivariate Analysis: Techniques for Educational and Psychological Research · Tatsuoka, M. M.

  Referenced in the appendix as an excellent source for a more thorough understanding of matrix algebra and its application in multivariate statistics.

• Factor Analysis · Gorsuch, R. L.

  Mentioned as a key resource for more advanced topics in factor analysis, such as alternative rotational methods, assessing adequacy of extraction, and significance testing.

Featured in these guides

• The Behavioral Science Underneath It All →Cited source
• Build A People Analytics Function →Cited source
• See How The Pieces Connect — Models That Link Drivers To Outcomes →Cited source
• Choose The Right Lens — Multivariate Statistical Analysis: PCA, Factor, Cluster, Discriminant, MANOVA And Friends →Cited source
• Design The Organization And Change It →Cited source
• Study People And Organizations With Scientific Rigor →Cited source
• Do Research That Holds Up →Cited source
• Choose And Apply The Right Analytical Method →Pole in “Analyst Understanding Versus Procedural Rigor”
• Design Surveys People Answer Honestly →Cited source
• Understand What Drives Individual Performance →Cited source

Where other books disagree

• Analyst Understanding Versus Procedural Rigor →