University of California,
Los Angeles
Coursework
Students complete nine courses in three core methodological areas, three courses in an area of methodological specialization, and three substantive courses related to educational issues.
Core Area 1: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design
- Linear Statistical Models in Social Science Research: Experimental Design
- Introduction to Causal Inference
- Advanced Causal Inference
Core Area 2: Analysis / Modeling
- Linear Statistical Models in Social Science Research: Multiple Regression
- Introduction to Multilevel Modeling
- Latent Variable Modeling
Core Area 3: Measurement and Psychometric Theory
- Classical Test Theory
- Generalizability Theory
- Item Response Theory
Area of Methodological Specialization
Students choose three further courses in one of two areas of methodological specialization: (a) statistical modeling or (b) measurement and psychometrics.
(a) Statistical Modeling Specialization
Advanced Multilevel Models
Advanced Topics in Latent Variable Modeling
Analysis of Incomplete Data
Applied Bayesian Inference
Applied Probability
Large Sample Theory; including Re-sampling
Longitudinal Data Analysis
Methods for Categorical Data Analysis
Multivariate Statistics
Theoretical Statistics
(b) Measurement and Psychometrics Specialization
Advanced Topics in Latent Variable Modeling
Advanced Topics in Psychometrics
Applied Bayesian Inference
Assessment in Education: Theory and Practice
Factor Analysis
Measuring Classroom Practice and Program Implementation
Multidimensional Item Response Theory
Survey Research Methods in Education
Substantive Coursework in Educational Issues
Courses in substantive education areas may concern, for example, teaching, learning, cognitive development, urban schooling, educational access and opportunity for disadvantaged groups, language policy in education, among many others.
Research Apprenticeship
UCLA has a number of major research efforts currently underway that address issues of teaching, learning, and assessment in mathematics and science, as well as problems in educational policy (e.g. high school dropout rates, patterns of re-segregation in urban schools, or access to higher education). These are ideal opportunities for doctoral fellows to work closely with program affiliated faculty and researchers and obtain enriched training experiences situated in real contexts that integrate applied research with educational policy and practice. Examples of projects include multivariate statistical analyses of large datasets to investigate trends and factors associated with achievement, developing and validating measures of student achievement and instructional processes, and designing and carrying out experiments to test the effectiveness of educational interventions.
Research Practicum
(Guided Individual Research)
Each fellow will work with participating faculty on the development of guided individual research. The individual research project will be connected to the research apprenticeship component, such as exploring how to solve specific problems that arise in the larger research project, applying new analytic methods, or developing new modeling approaches. Outcomes of the research practicum will be written papers and presentations at regional or national research conferences (e.g., annual meetings of the American Educational Research Association).
Seminar/Colloquium Series on Research and Methods in Education Science
The primary emphasis of this colloquium series is the use of state-of-the-art quantitative methods to address pressing problems in education research and policy. Associated researchers and fellows will hold talks and presentations to share methodological problems and issues arising in their research projects. Participants will discuss possible solutions and approaches to address these issues. In addition, invited speakers from outside the program will give presentations on cutting-edge methodological issues (e.g., estimating causal effects in multilevel settings, issues in modeling educational growth, advances in the measurement of educational achievement and other outcomes).
Doctoral Dissertation
Fellows’ doctoral dissertations will focus on cutting-edge methodological issues as applied to research on educational issues and education policy. Dissertations can make primarily methodological contributions (with strong substantive illustrative examples in education) , or they can have a more substantive focus that entails thoughtful, rigorous use of the best methodologies available.
Other Professional Preparation
To strengthen students’ professional preparation, the program incorporates several additional activities. First, students will participate in reviewing and critiquing proposals for professional conferences. Second, students will participate as adjunct reviewers of manuscripts submitted to scholarly journals for publication (in conjunction with faculty participating in the training program). Third, students will participate in ongoing grant proposal writing. Fourth, students will be affiliated with two leading professional and research associations closest to their areas of interest. Fifth, depending on their needs, students will participate in available training opportunities in teaching (e.g., to prepare them for undergraduate teaching in statistics) and professional writing.