dr.keithwidaman

Keith Widaman, Ph.D

Keith Widaman is chair of the Psychology Department at UC Davis. He has published over 100 research articles on the development of human mental abilities and on statistical methods used in the social sciences. In research on mental abilities, Keith studied the cognitive processes underlying numerical facility, especially as these processes change in nature and in speed of execution from childhood through early adulthood. He also studies the structure and development of adaptive behaviors of persons with mental retardation, particularly how parenting behaviors foster growth of adaptive behaviors. His quantitative work encompasses contributions to factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and item response theory, and he is currently working on reformulating the role of significance testing in regression analysis.

Dr. Widaman’s honors and awards include: Fellow of Divisions 5 (Statistics) and 33 (Developmental Disabilities) of the American Psychological Association, the Cattell Award winner from the Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology, the 2002 Jeffrey S. Tanaka Award from SMEP for best article published in Multivariate Behavioral Research during 2001, and is on the editorial boards of seven journals, including Psychological Methods, Multivariate Behavioral Research, and Intelligence. Keith is also the co-recipient of the Professor of the Year Award, Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, for the 1996-97 academic year, and served as President of SMEP from 1996-97.