Modelling identity motives using multilevel regression

This chapter illustrates how self-report data elicited using a single open-ended question (who am I?) tied to simple rating scales in the context of a questionnaire completed during an interview can be analysed to test the relative viability of several theories of identity dynamics. The exercise described shows how a relatively simple data set can be manipulated statistically to test complex hypotheses. It emphases the importance in research of postulating and then examining alternative explanations for the patterns that are discovered in data sets. The exercise is suitable for intermediate and advanced level courses.