Postdoctoral Fellow · Northwestern University
Lydia
Bradford
Postdoctoral Fellow, STEPP Center
Institute for Policy Research , Northwestern University
Ph.D. · Measurement & Quantitative Methods
Postdoctoral Fellow · Northwestern University
Postdoctoral Fellow, STEPP Center
Institute for Policy Research , Northwestern University
I am a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Beth Tipton at the Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (STEPP) center at Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research.
I hold a Ph.D. in Measurement and Quantitative Methods from Michigan State University where my dissertation provided a latent state-trait model for investigating mediation with multiple time points in a three-level model. Currently, I am working with Dr. Beth Tipton as part of the evaluation team to investigate the effectiveness of a project based learning high school science curriculum in the rural south.
My research focuses on statistical approahces for moderation and mediation analysis in education. It focuses on different hierarchical and structural equation models, their estimation, as well as issues of bias and power in complex education research designs which have developed upon my experiences with multiple cluster randomized control trials. I aim to improve experimental designs, explore machine learning applications for education data, and establish better models and estimation methods for complex research designs.
Evaluate the effects of a High School Chemistry and Physics project based learning curriculum in the South. See the project here. For this project, I currently work as a postdoc on the Evaluation team, working on research design, data collection, and estimating the effect.
This project is three-prong in its goal. The first is the evaluate the use of the MARCplot for visualizing meta-analytic results and to create an R package for the MARCplot. The second is to understand how education decision makers use evidence and what types of tools might aid them in this. The third is to create a protocol of a tool to help decision makers find and use evidence. As a postdoc, I support various aspects of this process with a focus on the development of the R package.
This research develops upon my dissertation work and continues developing and evaluating structural equation models that account for within-person change over time in multilevel mediation frameworks, with applications to educational, social science, and public health research. This research also involves developing better estimation methods for these models.
Not teaching any courses this quarter. Please check back for future course offerings, or get in touch for inquiries on consulting, tutoring, leading workshops, or teaching.
I welcome inquiries from researchers, collaborators, and students interested in quantitative methods, educational measurement, and evidence-based policy. Feel free to reach out by email or connect on LinkedIn.