Thomas Hummel

Thomas Hummel programs computers and investigates how the choice of a research method affects the conclusions drawn from data. He has maintained his interest in counseling, but he focuses more on research methods used to answer questions about counseling.

Hummel's interests crystallized while he was completing his doctorate. In addition to the core counseling courses, he took an equal number of classes in educational research and scientific techniques. Hummel began programming computers and investigating how the choice of a research method affected the conclusions drawn from data. He has maintained my interest in counseling, but I focus more on research methods used to answer questions about counseling. 

Since coming to Minnesota, Hummel has developed a strong interest in computer simulations. Such simulations can be used to investigate questions in statistics and to model counseling behavior. One study using a computer simulation to investigate a statistical technique resulted in the article, "Empirical comparison of univariate and multivariate analysis of variance procedures," (Hummel & Sligo, 1971). This study was designated a "citation classic" by the Social Science Citation Index (this requires a minimum of 100 citations). 

A number of years of Hummel's work have been summarized in a chapter entitled, "The usefulness of tests in clinical decisions" (Lichtenberg & Goodyear, 1999). The chapter presents equations useful in testing clinical hypotheses and presents numerical analysis results on critical values for testing clinical hypotheses, as well as by the long run probabilities associated with their use.  For this work, Hummel received the American Educational Research Association, Division E, Distinguished Research Award.