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Different results for between/within groups and within group regression analyses

Hi Phillip,

sorry if I ask you a question.
In this moment I have a 3x4x8 matrix, where '3' is the number of groups, '8' the number of tests, and '4' the levels of the potential main effect.

Following your explanation, I was before thinking that leaving interactions out of the models would give you a better approximation of the main effect. But now that I read it again, I am unsure about it.

In my case, the '4' levels are nested in each set.
If I write lmer(Score ~ pot_ME + random effects) I have no statistical significance.
If I write lmer(Score ~ pot_ME*groups + random effects) I have statistical significance for the main effect (p<0.05) and a strong interaction (p<.001).
If I write lmer(Score ~ pot_ME*groups*tests + random effects) I have no statistical significance nor interactions.

What approach is the more correct to get information about the presence of a main effect?

(My parameters are not-continuous)

Best
Luca