Random coefficient for an interaction term

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ewancarr
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2011 12:46 pm

Random coefficient for an interaction term

Post by ewancarr »

Hello,

I'm trying to fit a two-level normal response model. I include an interaction term between
two level-1 variables ('year' and 'x'). I want to test whether the association between the
interaction term and the outcome, y, is consistent across my level-2 units — i.e. whether
the model is improved by including a random coefficient for the interaction term. However,
I'm stuck on a few points:
  • Should I also include random coefficients for the main effects involved in the interaction?
    I.e. for the interaction between year and x, I could include random coefficients for year, x and year*x.
  • How should I test the significance of the level-2 variation? (i.e. should I test the variance of
    the interaction only, or the variance of all main effects and the interaction, or the variances and
    covariances of all of the above?
  • How should I plot the random coefficients?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Ewan
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