College of Education and Human Development

Department of Educational Psychology

Quantitative methods in education

Solve problems in education through research

Discover solutions to issues in educational research, assessment, and program evaluation through measurement, evaluation, and statistics. Upon graduation, you'll be equipped to help inform educational policy, practice, and curriculum and—most importantly—help schools and students succeed.

Careers

  • Test publishing firms
  • Teaching and research at colleges and universities (PhD only)
  • Research and evaluation centers
  • Public school systems
  • State departments of instruction
  • Private industry

Quote from José Palma, PhD '21

José Palma

It is the combination of psychometric research and applied focus, in addition to knowledge gained from my academic journey, that makes me a competitive and atypical educational measurement researcher today.

José Palma, PhD '21 Postdoctoral researcher Texas A&M University

Areas of emphasis and minor

Quantitative methods in education engages in the science and practice of educational measurement and evaluation, primarily through the development and application of statistical methods, informed by the study of teaching and learning statistics. In this program, you’ll study quantitative and qualitative research on the methods and uses of educational measurement, evaluation, and statistics to address practical problems. Our students and faculty explore new ways to improve teaching and learning and to meet the demands of practice, policy, and accountability.

    Statistics concentration

    The statistics concentration includes a wide range of statistical methods and their underlying theories and applications; principles of statistical reasoning; and research design in educational settings. Students focusing in statistics will learn and examine the usefulness of methods, such as: multivariate regression, hierarchical linear modeling, longitudinal data modeling, and structural equation modeling. They’ll also explore a range of multivariate methods for analyzing realistic educational, psychological, and more generally, social and behavioral sciences data. In addition, students will research the development of new methods, modification of existing methods, and test the properties of statistical models.

    Educational measurement concentration

    The statistics concentration includes a wide range of statistical methods and their underlying theories and applications; principles of statistical reasoning; and research design in educational settings. Students focusing in statistics will learn and examine the usefulness of methods, such as: multivariate regression, hierarchical linear modeling, longitudinal data modeling, and structural equation modeling. They’ll also explore a range of multivariate methods for analyzing realistic educational, psychological, and more generally, social and behavioral sciences data. In addition, students will research the development of new methods, modification of existing methods, and test the properties of statistical models.

    Educational psychology minor: emphasis in quantitative methods in education

    The Department of Educational Psychology offers a minor in educational psychology with an emphasis in quantitative methods in education.

    Tuition and funding

    The QME program strives to provide at least partial funding opportunities to all incoming and current PhD students.

      Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for information on tuition.

      Submit your application materials by the December 1 deadline, and you’ll automatically be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental awards based on scholastic achievement. Notification of awards will be sent in March.

      Note: Spring, summer, and fall (March deadline) applicants will not qualify for fellowships.

      Get paid to work as a teaching assistant, graduate instructor or research assistant. Graduate assistantships are available through the department, College of Education and Human Development, and the University.

      Note: Applicants who complete their applications by the March 1 deadline will be less likely to receive graduate assistantships than students who meet the December 1 deadline.

      Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for more information on funding.

      Visit OneStop Student Services for more information on available financial aid.

      Faculty and staff

      Chia-Yi Chiu

      Yackel Professor of Educational Measurement and Assessment

      Nana Kim

      Assistant professor

      Nidhi Kohli

      Royal and Virginia Anderson Professor of Quantitative Methods in Education; Program Coordinator

      Chelsey Legacy

      Teaching assistant professor

      Haoran Li

      Assistant Professor

      Suzanne Loch

      Senior teaching specialist

      Michael Rodriguez

      CEHD Dean; Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development; co-founding director of Educational Equity Resource Center

      Andrew Zieffler

      Teaching professor

      Adjunct faculty and program affiliates

      Adjunct faculty

      Claudio Violato

      Assistant dean, Medical School

      Program affiliates

      Adam Rothman

      Associate professor, School of Statistics
       

      News

      QME recognizes students in year end celebration

      Students in the Department of Educational Psychology’s quantitative methods in education (QME) program were recognized for their contributions to the program during the 2022-23 academic year.

      Kohli speaks at two international conferences

      Dr. Nidhi Kohli, Royal and Virginia Anderson Professor of Quantitative Methods in Education (QME) and Program Coordinator for the QME program in the Department of Educational Psychology, was invited to present at two conferences this summer: the International Meeting of Psychometric Society and the International Indian Statistical Association.