Petitions Requested for New Section

In his book, Statistics on the Table: The History of Statistical Concepts and Methods, Stephen Stigler wrote, “Statistics and psychology have long enjoyed an unusually close relationship—indeed more than just close, for they are inextricably bound together.” The same is true of statistics and education, in part because psychology and education are closely related. In an effort to embrace this shared tradition of statistics and measurement in psychology and education, a new ASA section, tentatively titled Statistics and Measurement in Psychology and Education, is being considered.

The section, if approved, will allow ASA members to cooperate with other ASA sections and related professional organizations to advance, discuss, understand, and publicize advances in statistics and measurement as they relate to psychology and education, as well as related disciplines (e.g., sociology, management, nursing, behavioral medicine).

Some statistics and measurement issues are unique to studying psychological and educational phenomenon, and related phenomena, which will be the principal focus of the section. The scope will be broad because both psychology and education are multidisciplinary domains of study and many disciplines rely on psychological and educational theory and data in a variety of ways. At the core of the Statistics and Measurement in Psychology and Education Section will be the development, improvement, and evaluation of statistical and measurement methods that have the potential to advance research in psychology, education, and related disciplines.

One requirement for a new section is to have petitions from at least 100 ASA members saying they would join the section and actively participate in its activities. If you are interested in joining the section and participating in its activities should it be approved by the ASA, send a petition via email to Ken Kelley at kkelley@nd.edu. The email should contain the following statements and information for the ASA to consider the email a signed petition:

I am currently a member of the ASA and I support the formation of the Statistics and Measurement in Psychology and Education Section.
I intend to be actively involved in the section and pay dues if the section is approved and becomes a full-fledged section of the ASA.

Member Name
Member Email Address
ASA Member #

Additionally, the name of the section is tentative. Any comments would be appreciated.