Areas of Research
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education
Computer-based systems that can perform education-related tasks performed by humans, such as test creation, test scoring, selection of educational materials, scaffolding and tutoring.
Causal Inference
Investigation of the processes that result in educational outcomes (for example, learning and graduation) from a set of possible causes (for example, practice, attendance, program participation). Causal inference research is about ruling out possible causes and identifying the relative contribution of multiple causes.
Computational Psychometrics
It is the combination of methods and statistical models of psychometrics with machine learning and AI methods to perform testing and assessment functions such as test development, validation and scoring.
Experimental and Quasi-experimental Design
Experimental designs are research studies with random assignment of participants to treatment conditions. It includes many variations such as multisite randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized trials, partially nested designs, SMART designs, and crossover designs. Quasi-experimental designs are research designs where participants are not randomly assigned to groups, but statistical methods are used to remove selection bias and demonstrate that treatment and control groups have baseline equivalence.
Fairness in Measurement
Measurement is a critical aspect of conducting quantitative research in education and beyond, and if the measurement scores have fairness issues then the research itself has fairness issues. Our faculty have expertise in developing measurement tools and analyzing measurement data to ensure that educational and psychological standards for fair measurement are upheld in quantitative research studies.
Measurement Validity
Measurement is a critical aspect of conducting quantitative research in education and beyond, and if the measurement scores have validity issues then the research itself has validity issues. Our faculty have expertise in developing measurement tools and analyzing measurement data to ensure that educational and psychological standards for valid measurement are upheld in large-scale testing as well as in measurement used within quantitative research studies.
Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is the systematic collection, analysis and use of data to assess the characteristics, effectiveness and efficiency of projects, policies and programs. Our faculty have expertise in designing and implementing evaluations, developing assessments for evaluations, and analyzing and reporting data.
Psychometrics
That statistical science of measuring variables, otherwise known as psychometrics, is complex and misunderstood by many scholars and practitioners in education and beyond. Our faculty have an abundance of expertise in the field of psychometrics, ranging from classical test theory and item response theory, to natural language processing and computational psychometrics.
Statistical Modeling
It is to use theory to generate hypotheses about relationships between multiple variables, and to use data to obtain validity evidence about the hypothesized relationships. Statistical modeling investigates complex relationships involving mediation, moderation and confounding.
