New Faculty Member Studies Measurement, Statistics

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Xinya Liang

Xinya Liang, new University of Arkansas assistant professor of educational statistics and research methods, is focusing on research areas of structural equation modeling, Bayesian data analysis, and educational measurement, on which she has intensive research during her time at the Florida State University.

Liang conducts methodological research on structural equation modeling through simulation.

"I do simulation studies in trying to find out what is the strength and limitations of each estimation method under a variety of manipulated conditions," she said. "One of my research focuses is on comparing the frequent and Bayesian methods in statistical modeling."

Liang also does empirical research in measurements using large-scale assessment data from kindergarten through 12th grades. Her current interest is on examining students' growth trajectories in reading and math across different subgroups over years, and investigating students' mastery or non-mastery of skills in math tests.

 Liang earned a bachelor's degree in Information and Computing Science from Zhejiang Gongshang University in China. She also has a doctorate from Florida State University, focusing on Measurement and Statistics, Educational Psychology and Learning Systems.

Liang was a teaching assistant in measurement and statistics, educational psychology and learning systems at FSU from 2013-2014.

She was an intern psychometrician with the Florida Department of Education from 2010-2013. She has been a research assistant in three different research centers of FSU from 2007-2010.

She received a dissertation grant from the graduate school at FSU in 2012 and a Distinguished Paper Award from the Florida Educational Research Association in 2014.

Liang is a member of the American Educational Research Association, Florida Educational Research Association and National Council on Measurement in Education.