ERIC Number: EJ957767
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1934-5747
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A More Powerful Test in Three-Level Cluster Randomized Designs
Konstantopoulos, Spyros
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, v4 n4 p354-369 2011
Field experiments that involve nested structures frequently assign treatment conditions to entire groups (such as schools). A key aspect of the design of such experiments includes knowledge of the clustering effects that are often expressed via intraclass correlation. This study provides methods for constructing a more powerful test for the treatment effect in three-level cluster randomized designs with two levels of nesting (at the second and third levels). When the intraclass correlation structure at the second and third level is assumed to be known, the proposed test provides higher estimates of power than those obtained from the typical test based on level-3 unit means, because it preserves the degrees of freedom associated with the number of level-2 and level-1 units. The advantage in power estimates is more pronounced when the number of level-3 units (e.g., schools) is small and the samples are homogeneous (e.g., low-achieving schools). (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Correlation, Field Studies, Experiments, Statistical Analysis, Control Groups, Outcomes of Treatment, Algebra, Geometric Concepts, Sample Size, Effect Size
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A