My Bio
Karen M. Schmidt received her B.A. degree in Psychology in 1984 at Rockhurst University, her M.A. degree in Human Development in 1991 at The University of Kansas, and her Ph.D. degree in Psychology in 1997 at The University of Kansas, specializing in quantitative methods. She is an associate professor in psychology at The University of Virginia in the quantitative methods area. Her primary areas of expertise are item response theory (IRT), including multidimensional IRT, measurement, test design, and research methodology.
Her research work experience includes study and data analysis of infant, child, and adult cognitive development and aging, investigation of the relationship of pain with personality characteristics, social desirability, and analysis of polytomous item response models. She has vast experience in statistical, methodological, and item response theory consulting, including projects ranging from pain measurement to personality assessment, and has served as an instructor for APA's Advanced Training Institute in Longitudinal Methods, Modeling, and Measurement in Contemporary Psychological Research.
She was the Director of Studies at Brown Residential College 2004-2011, in which she oversaw intellectual activities and courses at Brown, including teaching a first year seminar, and Course Design Practicum for Brown students teaching short courses.
She has been Co-Director of The College Science Scholars program since 2004, in which she mentors a select group of science-focused students and supports them in pursuing and developing research experiences at UVa.