Doubly Latent Multilevel Procedures for Organizational Assessment and Prediction

Organizational research has a rich tradition of multilevel investigations anchored in a long-standing recognition that conclusions obtained at the individual level of analysis cannot be expected to generalize at other levels. Doubly latent multilevel methods, which provide the way to combine multilevel analyses and structural equation models into a single analytic framework, enrich this tradition. Yet, some critical technical considerations have yet to be systematically integrated in applied research. This article aims to introduce organizational researchers to the estimation of doubly latent multilevel models while taking into account: (a) The need to systematically assess the multilevel measurement structure of the constructs included in the study; (b) the various types of measurement errors that can be controlled for (rather than simply estimated) as part of these models; (c) the importance of relying on a clear understanding of contextual versus climate constructs given their role in centering decisions. These issues are illustrated by an investigation of the multilevel relations between psychological empowerment, psychological health, and turnover intentions among a large sample (N = 5875 employees nested within 49 work units) of Canadian Defence employees.