Abstract
Multilevel structures are omnipresent. Consumers live in geographical locations, shop in specific stores, or are members of clubs. Consumers who belong to the same group share characteristics and are expected to be more similar than consumers belonging to another group. In data analysis this sharedness needs to be taken into account to enable valid inferences. In this chapter, we describe what multilevel analysis is and introduce major methods when dealing with multiple levels of analysis (e.g., individual and country). We elaborate on the key issues in multilevel analysis being aggregation and isomorphism, and finalize with a discussion on the conventional top-down approach in which higher levels affect individuals and the recent bottom-up approach in which individuals via their attitudes and behaviours affect societal norms. Multilevel issues are expected to become more popular in the next years, also because of the available new tools for applied researchers
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Cross Cultural Issues in Consumer Science and Consumer Psychology |
Subtitle of host publication | Current Perspectives and Future Directions |
Editors | Hester van Herk, Carlos J. Torelli |
Place of Publication | Cham |
Publisher | Springer |
Pages | 191-211 |
Number of pages | 21 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783319650913 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783319650906, 9783319879482 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- bottom-up analysis
- isomorphism
- levels of analysis
- multi-level analysis
- top-down analysis