Qizhou Duan

Quantitative

B.S. in Mathematics, B.S. in Pyshcology; College of William and Mary

BURNS fellow

I am a graduate student in Quantitative Psychology. I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2020 with a double major in Mathematics and Psychology. My research interest lies in psychological measurement, generally speaking, how accurately we can measure people's abilities. Currently, I am investigating Differential Item Functioning (DIF). DIF happens in situations where people who have the same ability level but are put into a disadvantageous position due to their group memberships such as their affiliation to a different culture, being in ethnically minority groups, and differences in individuals' social economic status. To do that, I am combining research in response time models with item response models to add an additional evaluative layer when considering whether an item contains potential bias. I am also interested in systematic review and meta-analysis as it becomes relevant in the process of determining whether an item has a DIF effect.

Advisor: Dr. Alison Cheng