Groups

SRRI is composed of three distinct research groups and an administrative and support structure.

SERG

Statistics Education Research Group
SERG is a group of researchers with backgrounds in psychology, education, and computer science who have been collaborating since the late 1970's. The group's mission is to better understand how people reason about probability, statistics, and data analysis, and to use this understanding to improve the teaching of these topics at both the university and K-12 levels. Research initially focused on how adults reason about statistics and probability before receiving any formal instruction. More recent work has focused on younger students learning about data and chance and how their understanding develops over instruction in technology-rich environments.

PERG

Physics Education Research Group
During 2008-2009, PERG (a.k.a. UMPERG) transitioned from UMass to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where it joined the UNCG Department of Physics & Astronomy.

CLSG

Conceptual Learning in Science Group
The Conceptual Learning in Science Group has been engaged in science education research activities since the late 70's, with the help of Professors Randall Phillis, Biology, UMass Amherst, Melvin Steinberg, Physics, Smith C., and Neil Stillings, Cognitive Science, Hampshire C., and many doctoral students, postdocs, and local school teachers. Our work has focused on analogies, misconceptions, useful intuitions, creativity and imagery use in experts, model based learning, discussion leading strategies, computer simulations, and other topics. The group has been funded virtually continuously during this period by the US National Science Foundation.

Admin

Institute Administration & Support
SRRI's administration works under the direction of the Institute director and with the project PIs to manage research accounts, purchase equipment, process personnel forms, provide computer and web support, and coordinate with UMass administrative offices.