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Organizational Research Methods
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Testing Multilevel Mediation Using Hierarchical Linear Models

Problems and Solutions

Zhen Zhang

Arizona State University

Michael J. Zyphur

University of Washington, Bothell

Kristopher J. Preacher

University of Kansas

Testing multilevel mediation using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. However, potential confounding in multilevel mediation effect estimates can arise in these models when within-group effects differ from between-group effects. This study summarizes three types of HLM-based multilevel mediation models, and then explains that in two types of these models confounding can be produced and erroneous conclusions may be derived when using popularly recommended procedures. A Monte Carlo simulation study illustrates that these procedures can underestimate or overestimate true mediation effects. Recommendations are provided for appropriately testing multilevel mediation and for differentiating within-group versus between-group effects in multilevel settings.

Key Words: multilevel • mediation • hierarchical linear models • random coefficient regression

This version was published on October 1, 2009

Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 12, No. 4, 695-719 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1094428108327450
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