This book provides a brief, easy-to-read guide to implementing hierarchical linear modeling using three leading software platforms, followed by a set of original how-to applications articles following a standardard instructional format. The "guide" portion consists of five chapters by the editor, providing an overview of HLM, discussion of methodological assumptions, and parallel worked model examples in SPSS, SAS, and HLM software. The "applications" portion consists of ten contributions in which authors provide step by step presentations of how HLM is implemented and reported for introductory to intermediate applications.