Bias-Adjusted Three-Step Multilevel Latent Class Modeling with Covariates

Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 31, pp. 592–603

Abstract

We present a bias-adjusted three-step estimation approach for multilevel latent class models (LC) with covariates. The proposed approach involves (1) fitting a single-level measurement model while ignoring the multilevel structure, (2) assigning units to latent classes, and (3) fitting the multilevel model with the covariates while controlling for measurement error introduced in the second step. Simulation studies and an empirical example show that the three-step method is a legitimate modeling option compared to the existing one-step and two-step methods.

Authors 4

1. Johan Lyrvall corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University · University of Catania

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

   University of Catania

2. Zsuzsa Bakk Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

3. Jennifer Lynn Oser

   Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

   Affiliation as printed

   Ben-Gurion University

4. Roberto Di Mari

   University of Catania

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Catania