From the Faculty of the Evaluation, Statistics, & Methodology PhD Program!
Hello and welcome to our new blog. We are MAD about Methods! As faculty who have been involved in the field of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) for many years, we are excited to introduce you to our new blog: MAD (Meaningful, Action-Driven) with Methods and Measures. Our blog is sponsored by the Evaluation, Statistics, and Methodology program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and our aim is to engage in discussions and enrich scholarly contributions about MESA.
MESA is an interdisciplinary field that involves the application of rigorous quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess problems in the educational, social, and behavioral sciences. At the core of MESA is the idea of gathering and analyzing data to help policy makers, practitioners, and researchers make informed decisions. The field encompasses a wide range of topics, including educational assessment, program evaluation, psycho-metrics, survey research, qualitative methods, and data science. Through our blog, we hope to provide a platform for scholars and practitioners to share their insights and experiences, and to discuss the latest developments in the field.
Our vision for this blog is to become the go-to place for anyone interested in MESA topics or looking to stay informed about the latest happenings and hot topics in our field. Whether you are a student just starting your journey or an experienced practitioner looking to stay up-to-date with the latest research, we hope that you will find our blog to be a valuable resource.
In addition to providing brief research topics and news, we also hope to use this blog as an opportunity to explore the skills, knowledge, and dispositions required to be successful in the MESA field. We will be highlighting the work of scholars and practitioners who are making a difference in the field and discussing the competencies that have enabled them to achieve success. Each blog will also contain a list of resources on the topic, for readers who are interested in exploring the topic in greater detail.
The Evaluation, Statistics, and Methodology (ESM) program at the University of Tennessee is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the MESA field. We offer two graduate programs, including a residential PhD in Evaluation, Statistics, and Methodology, as well as a completely online MS in Education with a concentration in Evaluation Methodology. Through our blog, we hope to provide emerging and experienced professionals with the insights and guidance they need to excel in their chosen discipline.
We hope you find our MAD blog a valuable platform to come together and discuss the latest developments in the field of evaluation, assessment, and research methodology. We hope you will join us on this journey and go MAD with methods with us!
On behalf of the ESM Faculty:
Louis Rocconi (Pictured), Jennifer Morrow, Leia Cain, Fatima Zahra