Sean W. Mulvenon, Ph.D.
Professor of Educational Statistics and Research Methods
254 Graduate Education Building
Phone: 479-575-8727
FAX: 479-575-2492
seanm@uark.edu
Degrees:
- Ph.D., Arizona State University, Measurement, Statistics and Methodological Studies, 1993
- M.S., Arizona State University, Measurement, Statistics and Methodological Studies, 1991
- B.A., Eastern Washington University, Physics, 1986
Teaching Areas:
- Educational Statistics
- Testing and Measurement
- Research Methodology
Research Interests:
The study of longitudinal modeling, structural equation models, non-parametric statistical procedures, educational reform, and educational policy studies as applied to improving assessment of educational practices.Professional Biography:
Dr. Sean W. Mulvenon is a professor of educational statistics and Director of the National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems (NORMES) at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Mulvenon also holds the George M. and Boyce Billingsley Chair for Educational Research and Policy Studies. He completed his doctoral work at Arizona State in 1993 with his dissertation “Analytical Power Formulae for Repeated Measures Designs.” His professional career includes a visiting assistant professor position at the University of Illinois 1993 - 1995, and since 1995 he has held a faculty appointment at the University of Arkansas. He began NORMES with a $500 grant in 1996 and has grown this office to an organization with funding in excess of $1,000,000 annually. His scholarship and professional record include:
- 40 journal publications and 1 book
- Over 100 national and international professional presentations
- $3.7 million in external funding generated at the University of Arkansas
- Recipient of the first National Science Foundation grant in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas
- A journal editorship and reviewer for numerous journals
- Member of the National Research Advisory Board for the National Center for Educational Accountability
- Member of National Research Advisory Panel for Study on Teacher Preparation Programs
- Currently holds 207 copyrighted programs from work at NORMES
- Numerous awards, including the College of Education and Health Professions Outstanding Research Award in 1999.
Additionally, since 1998 he has written over 20 proprietary reports for the Arkansas Department of Education, Community Care Foundation, National Science Foundation, and Arkansas school districts. He has worked extensively with the Arkansas Department of Education in developing measurement and assessment models for their state school accountability program, with his work in this area recognized both within Arkansas and nationally.
Personal Information:
Professor Mulvenon is married and has one daughter. He is an avid golfer who maintains a scratch handicap and plays in many state and regional amateur golf tournaments. He is an enthusiast of contemporary jazz music of Boney James, Steve Cole, and The Crusaders, but appreciates the classics by Miles Davis and others. On most Saturdays during the fall you will find him tailgating in preparation for Razorback football games or just enjoying watching college football.Publications/Presentations:
Mulvenon, S., Stegman, C., & Ritter, G. (In Press). Test Anxiety: A multifaceted study on the perceptions of teachers, principals, counselors, students and parents. International Journal of Testing.
Mulvenon, S., Thorn, A., & Metha, A. (In Press). Adolescent Suicide: Are Females at Greater Risk? Journal of American Health Issues.
Thorn, A., & Mulvenon, S. (In press). Elementary School Counselors’ Impact on Student Achievement. Accepted for publication in the journal Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development.
Mulvenon, S., & McKenzie, S. (In Press). A Statistical Index to Identify and Assess Grade Inflation. Proceedings for the Hawaii International Conference on Statistics, Mathematics, and Related Fields. Honolulu, HI.
Mulvenon, S., & McKenzie, S. (In Press). Application of the Grade Inflation Index: Identifying Grade Inflation in a Secondary School. Proceedings for the Hawaii International Conference on Statistics, Mathematics, and Related Fields. Honolulu, HI.
Beasley, M., & Mulvenon, S. (2004). Statistical (Mis)(issues in the Health Sciences: Statistical Methods May Not Be the Problem. Proceedings of the American Statistical Association Joints Statistical Meeting, Toronto, 2004.
Jones, M., & Mulvenon, S. (Spring, 2003). Leaving No Child Left Behind: Using Data Driven Decision Making in School Systems. Phoenix, AZ: All Star Publishing.
Mulvenon, S., Williams, T., & Thorn, A. (2003). The Impact of Great Expectations on Student Achievement: Does Improving the Psychological Well-Being of Students Enhance Performance?. Arkansas Educational Research and Policy Studies Journal, 3(2), 23-44.
Mulvenon, S., McKenzie, S., Connors, J., & Williams, T. (2003). Teachers’ Attitudes Toward the Use of Standardized Testing: Implications for Practice. Arkansas Educational Research and Policy Studies Journal, 3(1), 61-80.
Turner, L., Mulvenon, S., & Hunt, S. (2003). Smoking Behavior and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among US Adolescents. Arkansas Journal, 38(1), 62-64.
Grants:
Organization: Community Cares Foundation Amount: $315,000
Title: Evaluation of the ACES Project in Springdale Public Schools
Date Funded: 2001-2005
Organization: Federal Line Item Appropriation Amount: $722,500
Title: National Office for Rural Measurement and Evaluation Systems
Date Funded: Sept. 1, 2003
Organization: Arkansas Department of Education Amount: $273,000
Title: Arkansas “Best Practices” Study
Date Funded: September 1, 2003
Funding Agency: Arkansas Department of Education Amount: $1,682,500
Title: Development of an Educational Database
Date Funded: 1998- 2005
Organization: National Science Foundation Amount: $211,000
Title: An Assessment of Systemic Initiatives: Modeling Best Practices for Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting Results
Date Funded: March 15, 2000.
Total External Funding as PI $ 3,660,374