Amy G. Froelich
Associate Professor
Department of Statistics
Iowa State University
3109 Snedecor Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1210
Phone: (515) 294-5584
Fax: (515) 294-4040
E-mail: amyf@iastate.edu
Office Hours for Summer 2009: By Appointment
Office Hours for Fall 2009: None - On Leave
Teaching
Research and Scholarship
Research Interests
- Statistics Education
My primary research interest is in the field of statistics education. I am involved in several area of research including
- Development and assessment of materials for Introductory Statistics - developing materials to enhance student learning and understanding of concepts
in introductory statistics.
- Development and assessment of materials for calculus-based probability and mathematical statistics - developing curriculum to extend the reform
movement in statistics education based on conceptual understanding and data analysis to the traditional calculus-based probability and mathematical
statistics course sequence. Materials incorporate the use of the statistical language R.
- Assessment of student attitudes toward statistics - analyzing data from the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics developed by Dr. Candace
Schau, Professor Emeritus, University of New Mexico.
- Training graduate students to teach statistics - involved in mentoring activities for graduate students in statistics on developing teaching skills.
Currently developing a series of seminars to train first-year graduate students in statistics in teaching responsibilities.
- Training K-12 teachers and community college teachers to teach statistics - developed and taught a new course for the Master of School Mathematics
program at Iowa State University to help students obtain the content and pedagogy knowledge necessary to teach college introductory statistics and/or
Advanced Placement Statistics. Currently writing a proposal with faculty across Iowa to offer this course in Summer 2009 and Summer 2010 to
high school and community college mathematics teachers across the state.
Here are some journals that publish research in statistics education.
There are several professional organizations in the field of statistics education.
- Psychometrics and Educational Measurement
My research interest in the fields of psychometrics and educational measurement is in the area of Item Response Theory, or IRT. IRT is concerned with
modeling examinee response to test questions or items (particularly dichotomous and polytomous) using a latent variable statistical model. I have worked
in several areas of research in this field, including
- Differential Item Functioning (DIF) - determines whether the probability of an examinee correctly answering an item varies based on the examinee's gender,
social, or racial group. Comparisons are always made between examinees with approximately the same level of ability. Thus, we seek to find an item or
groups of items where, all other things being equal, there is a difference in examinee performance based on characteristics of the examinee.
- Dimensionality Assessment - determines the number of dominant dimensions represented on a test. For example, does a math test just have one dominant
dimension, or does the math test divide into algebra, geometry, and trigonometry dimensions.
- Estimation - estimates parameters related to both the test items and examinee abilities based on the test responses. Generally, these parameters are
estimated by maximizing a particular type of likelihood function or are estimated using nonparametric methods.
- Computer Adaptive Tests (CAT) - item selection and security, examinee ability estimation, dimensionality assessment with CAT items, and DIF assessment
with CAT items.
Here are some journals devoted to publishing research in the fields of psychometrics and educational measurement. They are
There are several professional associations in the field of educational measurement and psychometrics. They include