R help - Nov 2011 - Help in determining the formula for a mixed model analysis

Dear R and statistics experts:


I have data of a behavioral experiment with the aim to investigate the effect of
a memory task on motor learning.


Question:
I would appreciate help in figuring out a possible formula to determine whether
motor learning across sessions differs between 2 groups.


Design:
- 2 Groups: group A: n=10 subjects, group B: n=10
- 6 motor learning sessions: baseline; immediately after memory task; 6h, 24h,
30d later, and 30d later with a different motor task
- dependent variable: response time (RT)


I tried the following:
(lme4 package of R, I assumed that Subject is the random factor, and Session and
Group the fixed factors.)


fm1 <- lmer(RT ~ Session + Group + (1|Subject) + (1|Subject:Session), table)


I would appreciate any help on the formula or the choice of statistical
approach.


Thanks!

Marianne,Columbia SC 		 	   		  
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Marianne Stephan <mariannestephan <at> hotmail.com> writes:
> Dear R and statistics experts:
> 
> I have data of a behavioral experiment with the aim to 
> investigate the effect of a memory task on motor
> learning. 
> 
> Question:
> I would appreciate help in figuring out a 
> possible formula to determine whether motor learning across
> sessions differs between 2 groups.
> 
> Design:
> - 2 Groups: group A: n=10 subjects, group B: n=10
> - 6 motor learning sessions: baseline; immediately after 
> memory task; 6h, 24h, 30d later, and 30d later
> with a different motor task
> - dependent variable: response time (RT)
> 
> I tried the following:
> (lme4 package of R, I assumed that 
> Subject is the random factor, and Session and Group the fixed factors.)
> 
> fm1 <- lmer(RT ~ Session + Group + (1|Subject) + (1|Subject:Session),
table)
> 
> I would appreciate any help on the formula or the 
> choice of statistical approach.
   Please re-post to the r-sig-mixed-models at r-project.org list.
   Your basic approach looks reasonable; you should be able to
use (1|Subject/Session) [check whether the results are identical]
for this nested analysis.  May provide more comments in
the other forum.

  Ben Bolker