Teaching Research Methods: Why QuantCrit Matters for Socially Just Developmental Science
Some research methods considered legitimate within and beyond developmental psychology perpetuate racist beliefs that are then reflected in sanctioned policies and practices. This includes quantitative research that utilizes both descriptive and inferential statistics (Strunk, 2023). Given the prevalence of these research methods in teaching, research, and practice, this webinar explores key aspects of teaching and (un)learning key assumptions that undergird descriptive and inferential statistics, drawing on critical approaches to quantitative research methods.
The goals of the webinar are to 1) provide an overview of the main assumptions and applications of Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit); as applied to the quality of developmental scholarship; 2) describe challenges and opportunities of incorporating QuantCrit in teaching of research methods and statistics; 3) outline applications and other ways faculty, higher education administration, staff, students can incorporate or apply QuantCrit in teaching and other areas of scholarship including publications.
Meet the Presenters
Rebecca A. Cruz, Ph.D.
Rebecca A. Cruz is an assistant professor of education at Johns Hopkins University, and affiliated faculty with the Center for Safe and Healthy Schools. Her research uses longitudinal, critical quantitative, and mixed methods to investigate educational inequities and to reconceptualize power structures in schools in ways that highlight political, social, and historical systems that produce them.
Dr. Cruz applies a multidisciplinary approach, with projects encompassing Sociology of Education and Education Policy. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Rebecca worked in middle and high school settings to develop co-teaching and inclusion service delivery models.
Deadric Williams, Ph.D.
Deadric Williams is an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee and Director of the Center for the Study of Family Health & Wellbeing. His research is organized around two general themes: (1) racism and families and (2) stress, couples’ relationships, and health. His research on racism and families uses Critical Race Theory as a theoretical perspective to challenge conventional sociological research on racial economic inequality among families.
His second line of research examines stress and health as a longitudinal and dyadic process among couples. Deadric’s research has been published in outlets such as Issues in Race & Society, Journal of African American Studies, Personal Relationships, Society & Mental Health, American Journal of Human Biology, Population Research and Policy Review among others.
