This course considers statistical methods for the analysis of data with a multilevel (clustered) structure with applications in social research.  Examples of multilevel structures include students nested within schools or universities, and individuals nested within households or geographical areas.  Multilevel structures also arise in longitudinal or panel studies where repeated measurements over time are taken on subjects (e.g. individuals or countries).  The course has an applied emphasis, and will consider practical issues such as the choice of an appropriate method of analysis for a given dataset and research question, descriptive analysis and modelling, model selection, and visualisation and interpretation of results. Students will gain hands-on experience of data analysis using R and datasets drawn from a range of social science disciplines.