IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/qualqt/v51y2017i1d10.1007_s11135-015-0304-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Group-mean-centering independent variables in multi-level models is dangerous

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Kelley

    (University of Nevada)

  • M. D. R. Evans

    (University of Nevada)

  • Jennifer Lowman

    (University of Nevada)

  • Valerie Lykes

    (University of Nevada)

Abstract

Group-mean centering of independent variables in multi-level models is widely practiced and widely recommended. For example, in cross-national studies of educational performance, family background is scored as a deviation from the country mean for student’s family background. We argue that this is usually a serious mis-specification, introducing bias and random measurement error with all their attendant vices. We examine five diverse examples of “real world” analyses using large, high quality datasets on topics of broad interest in the social sciences. In all of them, consistent with much (but not all) of the technical literature, group-mean centering substantially distorts results. Moreover the distortions are large, substantively important differences pointing towards seriously incorrect interpretations of important social processes. We therefore recommend that group-mean centering be abandoned.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Kelley & M. D. R. Evans & Jennifer Lowman & Valerie Lykes, 2017. "Group-mean-centering independent variables in multi-level models is dangerous," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 261-283, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:51:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11135-015-0304-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-015-0304-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11135-015-0304-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11135-015-0304-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Evans & Jonathan Kelley, 2004. "Effect of family structure on life satisfaction: australian evidence," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 69(3), pages 303-349, December.
    2. Krzysztof Zagorski & Mariah Evans & Jonathan Kelley & Katarzyna Piotrowska, 2014. "Erratum to: Does National Income Inequality Affect Individuals’ Quality of Life in Europe? Inequality, Happiness, Finances, and Health," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 939-939, September.
    3. Krzysztof Zagorski & Mariah Evans & Jonathan Kelley & Katarzyna Piotrowska, 2014. "Does National Income Inequality Affect Individuals’ Quality of Life in Europe? Inequality, Happiness, Finances, and Health," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 1089-1110, July.
    4. Omar Paccagnella, 2006. "Centering or Not Centering in Multilevel Models? The Role of the Group Mean and the Assessment of Group Effects," Evaluation Review, , vol. 30(1), pages 66-85, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ming-Chang Tsai, 2019. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ordinary: The Day-of-the-Week Effect on Mood Across the Globe," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2101-2124, October.
    2. Andrew Bell & Kelvyn Jones & Malcolm Fairbrother, 2018. "Understanding and misunderstanding group mean centering: a commentary on Kelley et al.’s dangerous practice," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(5), pages 2031-2036, September.
    3. M. D. R. Evans & Jonathan Kelley & S. M. C. Kelley & C. G. E. Kelley, 2019. "Rising Income Inequality During the Great Recession Had No Impact on Subjective Wellbeing in Europe, 2003–2012," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 203-228, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. M. D. R. Evans & Jonathan Kelley & C. G. E. Kelley & S. M. C. Kelley, 2020. "Income Inequality in the Great Recession did not Harm Subjective Health in Europe, 2003–2012," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(5), pages 1451-1473, November.
    2. Mikucka, Malgorzata & Sarracino, Francesco & Dubrow, Joshua K., 2017. "When Does Economic Growth Improve Life Satisfaction? Multilevel Analysis of the Roles of Social Trust and Income Inequality in 46 Countries, 1981–2012," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 447-459.
    3. Joanne Haddad & Jad Chaaban & Ali Chalak & Hala Ghattas, 2022. "Does Income Class Affect Life Satisfaction? New Evidence from Cross-Country Microdata," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, June.
    4. Anson Au, 2023. "Reassessing the econometric measurement of inequality and poverty: toward a cost-of-living approach," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Liisa-Maria Palomäki, 2017. "Reference Groups and Pensioners’ Subjective Economic Well-Being in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 509-525, March.
    6. Hasanul Banna & Muhammad Mehedi Masud & Shamsulbahriah K. A. Rodrigo, 2020. "How does economic growth impact on income inequality across ethnic groups in Malaysia?," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(4), pages 397-420, December.
    7. Muresan, Gabriela Mihaela & Ciumas, Cristina & Dragos, Simona Laura & Mare, Codruta, 2023. "Can private health insurance improve happiness? Evidence from European countries," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    8. Ngamaba, Kayonda Hubert & Armitage, Christopher & Panagioti, Maria & Hodkinson, Alexander, 2020. "How closely related are financial satisfaction and subjective well-being? Systematic review and meta-analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    9. Matthew J. Monnot & Terry A. Beehr, 2022. "The Good Life Versus the “Goods Life”: An Investigation of Goal Contents Theory and Employee Subjective Well-Being Across Asian Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1215-1244, March.
    10. Jacqueline Chen Chen & Tony Tam & Yen-sheng Chiang, 2019. "The Rise of Merit-based Inequality Acceptance After Exposure to Competition: Experimental Evidence among Chinese University Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 707-728, July.
    11. Can Verberi & Muhittin Kaplan, 2024. "An Evaluation of the Impact of the Pension System on Income Inequality: USA, UK, Netherlands, Italy and Türkiye," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 905-931, September.
    12. Haiping Xu & Chuqiao Zhang & Yawen Huang, 2023. "Social trust, social capital, and subjective well-being of rural residents: micro-empirical evidence based on the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Chenhong Peng & Paul S. F. Yip & Yik Wa Law, 2020. "What Factors Beyond Economic Poverty Lead People in High-income Societies to Feel Poor? Evidence from Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 991-1027, December.
    14. Olivia S. Jin & Phanindra V. Wunnava, 2023. "“Feeling richer and happier? The effect of self-perceived economic welfare on life satisfaction: longitudinal evidence from a transition economy”," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 1-19, March.
    15. Baoxi Li & De Xiao, 2021. "The Impact of Income Inequality on Subjective Environmental Pollution: Individual Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-26, July.
    16. Johan Graafland & Bjorn Lous, 2018. "Economic Freedom, Income Inequality and Life Satisfaction in OECD Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2071-2093, October.
    17. Woo Chang Kang & Jae Seung Lee & BK Song, 2020. "Envy and Pride: How Economic Inequality Deepens Happiness Inequality in South Korea," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 617-637, July.
    18. Quang Tran, Tuyen & Viet Nguyen, Cuong & Van Vu, Huong, 2015. "Economic Inequality and Happiness: A quantitative study among the elderly in Rural Vietnam," MPRA Paper 81235, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 14 Oct 2016.
    19. Nigel Kragten & Jesper Rözer, 2017. "The Income Inequality Hypothesis Revisited: Assessing the Hypothesis Using Four Methodological Approaches," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(3), pages 1015-1033, April.
    20. M. D. R. Evans & Jonathan Kelley & S. M. C. Kelley & C. G. E. Kelley, 2019. "Rising Income Inequality During the Great Recession Had No Impact on Subjective Wellbeing in Europe, 2003–2012," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 203-228, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:51:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11135-015-0304-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.