Methods Training
Our department offers cutting-edge, advanced methods training for graduate students to prepare them to be avid consumers and producers of research. Our faculty have expertise in advanced research design and statistical methods in applied research settings. Our methods training program reflects this applied focus, by helping students apply advanced statistical techniques to real-world scientific questions.
| Required methods courses for HDFS Ph.D. students: |
| HDFS 880: | Research Design and Measurement |
| HDFS 881: | Quantitative Research Methods |
| HDFS 960: |
Applied Multivariate Data Analysis Prerequisite: |
| Advanced methods electives: |
| HDFS 961: |
Applied Structural Equation Modeling Prerequisite: |
| HDFS 962: |
Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling Prerequisite: |
| HDFS 892 |
Advanced Qualitative Research Methods Prerequisite: |
For non-HDFS students interested in enrolling, please contact us at: HDFS.methods@hdfs.msu.edu
| Method Instructors: |
| Dr. Ryan P. Bowles is an expert in Rasch measurement, Item Response Theory, and Structural Equation Modeling with categorical outcomes. His research focuses on the assessment of early childhood language and literacy development. Dr. Bowles teaches Quantitative Research Methods, Applied Multivariate Data Analysis, Applied SEM, Longitudinal SEM, and Measurement. |
| Dr. Lekie Dwanyen specializes in qualitative research methods and community-based needs assessments designed to understand family and community mental health experiences in war-affected populations. She engages ethnographic, phenomenological, and case studies methods in her work with refugees and families in post-conflict settings. Dr. Dwanyen teaches HDFS 982 Qualitative Research Methods and HDFS 892 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods. |
| Dr. Amy K. Nuttall is an expert in structural equation modeling (SEM), longitudinal data analysis (LSEM), and mixture modeling. She employs these methods in longitudinal data (including intensive longitudinal “diary” sampling), family/dyadic data, and biological data to understand the impact of family processes and dynamics on development over time. Dr. Nuttall teaches Applied Multivariate Data Analysis, Applied SEM, and Longitudinal SEM. |
| Dr. Yijie Wang’s research employs experience sampling and longitudinal designs to understand development in daily lives and over time. Her work also uses secondary data from nationally representative samples such as the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS). Dr. Wang teaches Applied Multivariate Data Analysis. |
| Dr. Ahnalee Brincks is a quantitative methodologist focused on research questions in prevention science, particularly studies addressing adolescent mental, emotional, and behavioral health. She is interested in heterogeneity in response to intervention and adaptive approaches to maximize intervention effectiveness. Dr. Brincks teaches Research and Quantitative Methods in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS 481) and Advanced Methods in Intervention Research (HDFS 983). |