Comprehensive Examination for Ph.D. in Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology

Students are required to take comprehensive examination in their second or third year of studies. The exam is a closed-book. It is conducted in January at the beginning of the Spring semester every year. It consists of three sessions, and each session lasts three hours. The exam will last for a day and a half (two sessions in the morning and afternoon, and one session in the next-day morning). Students need to answer the selected questions in the computer with the aid of hand writings of the equations and figures if necessary. The comprehensive examination includes four areas.

Organization of PQP Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations (subject to change)

1. Linear Models and Inference
   Topics include statistical inference, regression, ANOVA, multivariate analysis
    
2. Latent Variable Models
   Topics include factor analysis, item response theory, structural equation modeling
    
3. Advanced Statistical Methods
   Topics include generalized linear models, categorical data analysis, correspondence analysis, mediation analysis
    
4. Quantitative Psychological Topics
   Topics include judgment and decision-making, multidimensional scaling, psychometric theory (e.g., measurement invariance, differential item functioning, classical test theory)