# SPSS mixed models - using classroom as an effect in the model

I'm looking at data from a health intervention study done in one middle school (16 classes/"clusters" at that school). Half assigned to control, half to intervention.

Is this an appropriate way to include the classes/clusters in the mixed model syntax in SPSS? I am unsure how to include this in the model. I have read that it would be a random effect, but I have also seen "schools" used as a fixed effect in others' models.

DV1 = my main dependent variable
Time = 4 time points
RandomizedGrp = 0 (intervention), 1 (control)
Class = coded 1-16 individual classes
(x) used in some places to denote multiplication

MIXED DV1 BY Time RandomizedGrp Class

/CRITERIA=CIN(95) MXITER(100) MXSTEP(10) SCORING(1) SINGULAR(0.000000000001) HCONVERGE(0,
ABSOLUTE) LCONVERGE(0, ABSOLUTE) PCONVERGE(0.000001, ABSOLUTE)

/FIXED=Time RandomizedGrp Class Time(x)Randomized Time(x)Randomized(x)Class  | SSTYPE(3)

/METHOD=ML

/PRINT=SOLUTION TESTCOV

/REPEATED=Time | SUBJECT(ID) COVTYPE(UN)

/EMMEANS=TABLES(Time)

/EMMEANS=TABLES(RandomizedGrp)

/EMMEANS=TABLES(Time*RandomizedGrp)

/EMMEANS=TABLES(Time*RandomizedGrp*Class).