Overview of Area

Before being admitted to the Doctoral specialization in Quantitative Methods, all students must have successfully completed a Master’s degree with a specialization in Quantitative Methods (or its equivalent). After being admitted, PhD students complete Core Area Courses but then focus on one of two concentrations: (a) statistics and research methodology or (b) psychometrics.  The two concentrations involve similar knowledge and skills but differ in their research focus. The research focus of students concentrating on statistics and research methodology involves the investigation and/or the development of statistical methods used in educational research to address substantive research questions.  Students whose concentration is psychometrics focus their research on problems related to educational measurement and testing.