Amy G. Froelich
Assistant Professor
Department of Statistics
Iowa State University
| Mailing Address Only: | On-Campus Office: | "Off-Campus" Office:
|
| 324 Snedecor Hall | 506D Ross Hall | 1411 Wilson Hall
|
| Ames, IA 50011-1210 | Phone: 294-9503 | Phone: 294-5584
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e-mail: amyf@iastate.edu
Office Hours for Spring 2008: MWF 9-9:50, 11-11:50 in 506D Ross Hall
Teaching
Research and Scholarship
Research Interests
- Statistics Education
My primary research interest is in the field of statistics education. I am primarily 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 materials to extend the reform
movement in statistics education based on students constructing knowledge through active learning activities 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 - collecting data to analyze the psychometric properties using methods from Item Response Theory
of the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics developed by Dr. Candace Schau.
- Training graduate students to teach statistics - involved in mentoring activities for graduate students in statistics on developing teaching skills.
- Training K-12 teachers and community college teachers to teach statistics - involved with developing and writing proposals to ensure future and
current teachers obtain the necessary statistical content to effectively teach statistical concepts. Developing a new statistics course for the Master
of School Mathematics program at ISU.
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.
- CAT - More and more research in IRT involves Computer Adaptive Tests or CATs. Different research areas with CATs are: 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