Psychology Department Events

Anastasi Lecture 2024

Anne Anastasi

When: Tuesday October 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Where: Lincoln Center Campus (McNally Amphitheater in the Gabelli School on 140 West 60th Street) + Online  

Speaker: Alberto Maydeu-Olivares, PhD (University of South Carolina)

Title: Statistical Psychological Measurement: Why We Measure the Way We Do and Whether We Should Change

Abstract: Statistical measurement involves obtaining a score and its associated measurement error for a given attribute. Current practices typically rely on norm-referenced scores and normed indices of precision, often focusing on one attribute at a time. This lecture contrasts the statistical measurement of attributes such as height and weight, and their relationship, to the measurement of psychological attributes like emotional stability and life satisfaction. It addresses key issues such as whether to measure or predict an attribute, the selection of statistical model, score, and statistic to quantify measurement precision, especially in the context of multi-faceted attributes or measuring several attributes simultaneously. The lecture concludes with reflections on whether there is a need to reconsider our current practices.

Alberto Maydeu-Olivares is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina. He previously served as a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Barcelona and as a Professor of Quantitative Methods and Marketing at IE Business School in Madrid. A former President of the Psychometric Society, his research centers on measurement and modeling challenges in the social sciences. He is particularly renowned for his work on goodness of fit of statistical models and the modeling of forced-choice items.