Clustered Ordinal Responses: Random Effects Models

This chapter presents the alternative model type for clustered ordinal data, which contains a random effect term in the linear predictor for each cluster. Such models permit heterogeneity in response probabilities for the various clusters that have a particular setting of explanatory variables. The chapter provides examples of models for which the random effect plays the role of an intercept term that varies among clusters. It then discusses multilevel (hierarchical) models in which random effects enter at various levels, such as occurs in educational applications that include random effects for students as well as for schools. The chapter also talks about relevant issues in choosing between a random effects model, a marginal model, and some other type of model, such as a transitional model. Controlled Vocabulary Terms hierarchical linear model