At present I am continuing work on the new estimation method for incomplete data, called the two-stage (TS) method. I have recently shown that the TS method performs as well as or better than other approaches when data are incomplete (Savalei & Bentler, 2009) and incomplete as well as nonnormal (Savalei & Falk, 2014). I am now extending the TS method to the common situation when data are missing at the item level but the analysis is at the level of the sum scores (e.g., as would be the case when the model is a regression or a path analysis model with sum scores, or an SEM model with parcels), and the results are very promising. This work is funded by NSERC.

Additionally, extending my earlier work on the RMSEA (Savalei, 2012), I am currently investigating some properties of the CFI fit index, popular in SEM.

Finally, I have also developed a new research interest in the area of statistical cognition (how people reason about and use statistics), particularly as it pertains to the crisis of replicability in psychology. I am beginning a research project investigating how researchers use Bayes Factors.

I am a new master student under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Savalei. At present, I am working with Dr. Cathy (Xijuan) Zhang to investigate the psychometric properties of scales in Likert format and other alternative formats. I am also working on a project with Bill (Lihan) Chen, where we use simulation to investigate planned missing data design.

Bill is a PhD student in quantitative psychology, working with Dr. Victoria Savalei. His primary research interest is structural equation modelling. He has a background in empirical research in cognitive science, and worked as a data programmer and analyst for a media firm. In his spare time, he writes and sings songs on a 12 string acoustic guitar.

Michael is a PhD student primarily working with Joe Henrich, Mark Schaller, and Steve Heine. His research focuses on the psychological and evolutionary processes of cultural transmission and evolution. Understanding these processes requires a combination of mathematical and computational modelling ( social network analysis, evolutionary models, complexity theory, etc.) and experimental psychology. Michael is a Statistical Consultant for the department and is working with Dr. Victoria Savalei and Dr. Carl Falk (a lab alumni) on understanding differences in Fit Propensity - the likelihood of a model fitting random data - of SEMs.

I am a Ph.D. student in the Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (MERM) program under the supervision of Dr. Bruno D. Zumbo in the Faculty of Education. My area of research is primarily focused on latent variable modelling, particularly Latent Class Analysis, finite mixtures and the design and implementation of efficient computer algorithms for purposes of Monte Carlo simulations. I also do research on multivariate non-Gaussian distributions through the use of Copulas (with applications towards SEM) and Bayesian estimation methods in the social sciences.

I am an fourth year undergraduate student at UBC, double major in psychology and mathematics. I am working as an undergradute research assistant and planning to apply for gradute studies in quantitative psychology for winter 2022.

Cathy Zhang was previously a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Savalei. She is now an assistant professor at York University. Her main areas of reserch include scale formats in psychological scales and missing data techniques in SEM.

Jordan Brace was previously a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Savalei. He now works as a product manager at Concord.

Winnie Tse was an undergraduate research assistant in UBC SEM lab. She is now a graduate student at University of Southern California studying quantitative psychology under the supervison of Dr. Mark Lai.

Carl is an Assistant Professor of Measurement and Quantitative Methods in the College of Edcatuion at Michigan State University. His research encompasses the development, programming, and testing of new quantitative models and methods that have applications across the social sciences ( e.g., psychology, education, patient reported outcomes ). Recently studied topics include: 1) Structural equation modeling and item response theory approaches to the measurement and control of response styles, 2) Semi- and non-parametric estimation of item response functions, 3) Estimation of indirect effects in mediational models, and 4) Statistical methods for handling incomplete and/or nonnormal data.

Mijke is now an assistant professor of psychological methods at the University of Amsterdam. She studies missing data in SEM and methods for distinguishing network and latent variable measurement models, among many other topics.

Patricia is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Patricia is a developmental psychologist with quantitative expertise. Her quantitative research examines methodological issues in structural equation modeling, including non-ideal data and variations in fit indices.

Jenny Chuang was a master student under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Savalei. She now works as a senior manager in a pharmacitical company.

Yu Luo was an undergraduate research assistant in UBC SEM lab. Yu Luo is now a graduate student at UBC working with Dr. Jiaying Zhao.

Bernice Liang was an undergraduate research assistant in UBC SEM lab. She graduated in Psychology and Statistic at Boston University.