*WORKSHOP: Modelling Within-Individual (or Group) Variation – Developments & Applications*

4th Nov 2019 (10am – 4pm), Bristol, UK

This free, one-day workshop will introduce new methods for modelling within-individual (or within-group) variation in repeatedly-measured outcomes. As well as talks introducing a variety of case studies, there will be practical sessions to demonstrate how to use multilevel models to analyse within-individual (or group) variation (a.k.a. mixed effects location scale models), with an extension to joint models relating differences in within-individual (or group) variation to an individual- (or group-) level outcome.

These models can apply to within-individual variation – if the dataset consists of observations repeatedly-measured within each person – but also to any scenario in which observations are repeatedly-made within a group of interest: for example exploring variation within clinics, schools, neighbourhoods, and other clusters. For instance, these techniques have been used to investigate: the factors related to within-individual variation in blood pressure, including association with later biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (Barrett et al., 2019); within-school variability in pupil achievement (Leckie et al., 2014); within-individual variation in weight gain in pregnancy (Goldstein et al, 2017); within-interviewer variability in survey responses (Brunton-Smith et al., 2017); the factors associated with within-individual variation in mood as assessed via ecological momentary assessment (Hedeker et al., 2008); etc.

As part of this workshop, we will demonstrate how to fit this general class of model in a Bayesian framework using R, Stan and WinBUGS. Participants are asked to bring laptops for use in the practical sessions, with the relevant software installed (further instructions and advice regarding software installation will be given once attendance is confirmed).

*Speakers & panel discussants: Jessica Barrett (University of Cambridge), Ian Brunton-Smith (University of Surrey), Harvey Goldstein (University of Bristol), George Leckie (University of Bristol), Graciela Muniz-Terrera (University of Edinburgh), Richard Parker (University of Bristol), Kate Tilling (University of Bristol)

*Who can attend? The workshop will be most relevant to anyone with an interest in modelling within-individual (or group) variation, including medical researchers, epidemiologists, social scientists, psychologists, etc. Knowledge and experience of using multilevel models to analyse clustered data is essential.

*For further information see: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/integrative-epidemiology/seminars/2019/modelling-within-individual-or-group-variation--developments--applications.html

*To book a place: please email Angharad Davies ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)

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