Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D. (2000) Quantitative Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.A.
  • A.M. (1997) Quantitative Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.A.
  • M.S. (1996) Statistics (with specialization in Psychometrics and Behavioral Statistics), University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.A.
  • B.Sc. (1993) Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Brinckman, B., Kwon, K., Azen, R., & Lease, M. (2024). Supportive Teacher Responses to Students’ Emotional Expression Moderate the Association Between Children’s Maladaptive Emotion Regulation and Aggression. School Psychology Review, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2024.2315023
  • Marciniak, R.A., Cornell, D.J., Meyer, B.B., Azen, R., Laiosa, M.D., & Ebersole, K.T. (2024). Workloads of Emergency Call Types in Active-Duty Firefighters. Merits, 4(1), 1-18; https://doi.org/10.3390/merits4010001
  • Bo, A., Azen, R., Hai, A.H., & Vang, C. (2023). Relative importance of behavior-specific determinants of heavy episodic drinking among U.S. young adults, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2023.2280959.
  • Johnson, M.D., Berman, S., Azen, R., Otieno, W., & Campbell-Kyureghyan, N. (2023). Robotization of Industrial Processes: Motivational Differences between Companies with and without Existing Robotic Processes, IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, DOI: 10.1080/24725838.2023.2278794
  • Cornell, D.J., Ebersole, K.T., Azen, R., Zalewski, K.R., Earl-Boehm, J.E., Alt, C.A. (2021). Measures of functional movement quality among firefighters. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care, 13(5):262-270. doi: 10.3928/19425864-20201117-01. 
  • Voith, L.A., Azen, R., & Qin, W. (2021). Social Capital Effects on the Relation between Neighborhood Characteristics and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among Women. Journal of Urban Health, 98, 91–100 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00475-1.
  • Samuel, T., Azen, R., & Campbell-Kyureghyan, N. (2020). Assessment of Training Effectiveness Adjusted for Learning (ATEAL). Part I: Method Development and Validation. Journal of Education and Learning, 9, 121-133. DOI:10.5539/jel.v9n5p121 
  • Samuel, T., Azen, R., & Campbell-Kyureghyan, N. (2020). Assessment of Training Effectiveness Adjusted for Learning (ATEAL). Part II: Practical Application. Journal of Education and Learning, 9, 134-150. DOI:10.5539/jel.v9n5p134 
  • Samuel, T., Azen, R., & Campbell-Kyureghyan, N. (2019). Evaluation of Learning Outcomes Through Multiple Choice Pre- and Post-Training Assessments. Journal of Education and Learning, 8. DOI:10.5539/jel.v8n3p122
  • Paasch-Anderson, J., Lamborn, S. D., & Azen, R. (2019). Beyond What, to How: Different Ways African American Adolescents Receive Ethnic and Racial Socialization Messages. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000269
  • Dondzila, C. J., Swartz, A. M., Keenan, K. G., Harley, A. E., Azen, R., and Strath, S. J. (2016).Translating exercise interventions to an in-home setting for seniors: preliminary impact on physical activity and function. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 28, 1-9.
  • Dondzila, C.J., Swartz, A. M., Keenan, K. G., Harley, A .E., Azen, R., and Strath, S. J. (2014). Geospatial relationships between awareness and utilization of community exercise resources and physical activity levels in older adults. Journal of Aging Research, Article ID 302690.
  • Luo, W., & Azen, R. (2013). Determining predictor importance in Hierarchical Linear Models using Dominance Analysis. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics Vol. 38, pp 3-31.
  • Azen, R., & Traxel, N. M. (2009). Using Dominance Analysis to determine predictor importance in logistic regression. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, Vol. 34, pp 319-347.
  • Azen, R., & Sass, D. A. (2008). Comparing the squared multiple correlation coefficients of non-nested models: An examination of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, Vol. 61, pp 163-178.
  • Priester, P. E., Azen, R., Speight, S., & Vera, E. M. (2007). The impact of counselor recovery status similarity on perceptions of attractiveness with members of Alcoholics Anonymous: An exception to the repulsion hypothesis. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Vol. 51, pp 14-20.
  • Azen, R., & Budescu, D. V. (2006). Comparing predictors in multivariate regression models: an extension of Dominance Analysis. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, Vol. 31, pp 157-180 .
  • Walker, C. M., Azen, R., & Schmitt, T. A. (2006). Statistical versus substantive dimensionality: The effect of distributional differences on dimensionality assessment using DIMTEST. Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 66, pp 721-738.
  • McCart, M. R., Priester, P. E., Davies, W. H., & Azen, R. (2006). Differential effectiveness of behavioral parent-training and cognitive-behavioral therapy for antisocial youth: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Vol. 34, pp 527-543.
  • Budescu, D. V., & Azen, R. (2004). Beyond global measures of relative importance: Some insights from Dominance Analysis. Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 7, pp 341-350.
  • Skowron, E. A., Wester, S. R., & Azen, R. (2004). Differentiation of self mediates college stress and adjustment. Journal of Counseling & Development, Vol. 82, pp 69-78.
  • Azen, R., & Budescu D. V. (2003). The dominance analysis approach for comparing predictors in multiple regression. Psychological Methods, Vol. 8, pp 129-148.
  • Azen, R., Bronner, S., & Gafni, N. (2002). Examination of gender bias in University admissions. Applied Measurement in Education, Vol. 15, pp 75-94.
  • Azen, R., Budescu, D. V., & Reiser, B. (2001). Criticality of predictors in multiple regression. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, Vol. 54, pp 201-225.

Books

Technical Reports

  • Azen, R., Maurice, S. A., Woods, S., & Adomavich, R. (2020). Pathways for Fathers and Families Impact Evaluation. OPRE Report. Washington, DC: Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Azen, R., Bronner, S., & Gafni, N. (1999). Examination of gender bias in admission to Universities in Israel. NITE Technical Report 255. Jerusalem, Israel: National Institute for Testing and Evaluation.

Book Chapters

Presentations at Professional Meetings

  • Bo, A., Azen, R., & Hai, A. H. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Behavioral Determinants of Heavy Episodic Drinking among Young Adults. Poster presented at the 2023 Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) Scientific Meeting, Bellevue, WA, June 2023.
  • Paek, S. & Azen, R. Evaluation of factors impacting predictor importance results in multilevel models. Presented at the 2023 International Meeting of the Psychometric Society (IMPS), College Park, MD, July 2023.
  • Paek, S., Sprandel, S., & Azen, R. Evaluating Predictor Importance in Hierarchical Linear Models using Dominance Analysis. Poster presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Online conference, July 2021. 
  • Cançado, L. P., & Azen, R. Predictor Importance in Multilevel Longitudinal Models: An Empirical Application of Dominance Analysis. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), Toronto, ON, Canada, April 2019.
  • Cançado, L. P., & Azen, R.  Dominance analysis for determining predictor importance in longitudinal multilevel models. Presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, New York, NY, July 2018.
  • Azen, R., & Cançado, L. P.  Measures of model fit for longitudinal multilevel models. Presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, New York, NY, July 2018.
  • Cançado, L. P., & Azen, R. Determining Predictor Relative Importance in Explanatory Multilevel IRT Models. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), New York, NY, April 2018.
  • Azen, R., & Cançado, L. Using dominance analysis to determine predictor importance in multilevel models. Poster presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Zurich, Switzerland, July 2017.
  • Nguyen, J., Ferguson, G. M., Azen, R., & Xiong, A. B. Cultural Variability in Tri-culturally Oriented Southeast Asian American Youth. Presented at the Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Austin, TX, April 2017.
  • Cornell, D., Ebersole, K., Azen, R., Earl-Boehm, J. E., Zalewski, K. R., & Alt, C. Criterion Validity of the Fusionetics Movement Efficiency Test In Reference to the Functional Movement Screen Among Active-Duty Firefighters. Presented at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, San Antonio, TX, February 2017.
  • Maeda, H., Wang, S., & Azen, R. Comparison of two methods for determining the number of factors in Exploratory Factor Analysis. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO, August 2016.
  • Azen, R., & Cançado, L. Criticality analysis for multilevel model selection and predictor rankings. Poster presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Asheville, NC, July 2016.
  • Rome, L. A., Azen, R., & Zhang, B. Detecting non‑Linear item position effects with a multilevel model. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), Washington, DC, April 2016.
  • Rome, L. A., Cançado, L., Azen, R., & Zhang, B. Ability estimation and DIF detection in large-scale assessments. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), Chicago, IL, April 2015.
  • Tang, S., & Azen. R. The statistical significance of Dominance Analysis measures in multiple regression. Presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Madison, WI, July 2014.
  • Azen, R., Tang, S., & Budescu, D. V. Comparing methods to evaluate predictor importance in Lexicographical Models. Presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Hong Kong, July 2011.
  • Azen, R., & Luo, W. Determining predictor importance in hierarchical linear models using Dominance Analysis. Poster presented at the 117th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 2009.
  • Traxel, N. M., & Azen, R. Predictor importance in logistic regression models: Examination of inferential approaches. Poster presented at the 115th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California, August 2007.
  • Traxel, N. M., & Azen, R. Predictor importance in logistic regression: An extension of Dominance Analysis. Poster presented at the 114th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, August 2006.
  • Budescu, D. V., & Azen, R. Dominance analysis for multivariate multiple regression . Paper presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of The Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology, Lake Tahoe, California, October 2005.
  • Azen, R., & Sass, D. A. Predictor Importance in Multiple Regression: Testing R-Squared Differences Between Non-Nested Models. Poster presented at the 2005 APS Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California, May 2005.
  • Azen, R., Sass, D. & Budescu, D. V. Predictor importance in multiple regression: Inferential methods for dominance analysis. Poster presented at the 112th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 2004.
  • Budescu, D. V., & Azen, R. Multivariate dominance analysis . Paper presented at the 24th Biennial Conference of the Society for Multivariate Analysis in the Behavioral Sciences, Jena, Germany, July 2004.
  • Walker, C. M., Azen, R., & Schmitt, T. A. Statistical versus substantive dimensionality: The effect of distributional differences on dimensionality assessment using DIMTEST. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, CA, April 2004.
  • Azen, R. Multiple mediator models: A comparison of testing approaches. Poster presented at the 111th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 2003.
  • Azen, R., & Budescu D. V. Dominance analysis: A method for comparing predictors in multiple regression. Presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Osaka, Japan, July 2001.
  • Skowron, E. A., Azen, R., Reinemann, D. H. S., Schmitt, T., & Ackerman, M. A. Parent differentiation, attachment to grandparents, and competence in urban children. Poster presented at the 109th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA, August 2001.
  • Skowron, E. A., Kozlowski, J., Azen, R., Ramczyk, R., & Tenge, J. Child abuse potential, differentiation of self, and multigenerational attachment. Poster presented at the 109th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA, August 2001.
  • Azen, R., Budescu, D. V. & Reiser, B. The criticality of predictors in multiple regression. Presented at the 1998 Joint Annual Meeting of the Classification Society of North America and the Psychometric Society in Urbana, Illinois, USA, June 1998.
  • Azen, R., & Budescu, D. V. Predictor criticality in multiple regression. Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, August 1997.

Research Interests

  • Ranking of predictor variables: methods for determining an ordering for the predictor variables in various univariate and multivariate statistical models.
  • Model selection: methods for selecting an appropriate model when a large number of possible models are available, such as in multiple regression.
  • Bootstrapping technique: generation of empirical probability distributions in order to model statistics whose distributions are unknown.
  • Multivariate data: detection of differences between groups using multivariate data techniques such as discriminant analysis and clustering methods.
  • For more information and SAS programs, click here.

Research Experience

Selected Grants and Awards

  • National Institute of Mental Health P30 Grant (Sub-award PI, $67,000; Summer 2008 – Fall 2009). Ongoing quantitative support for core grant, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin (PI: Jeffrey Kelly, CAIR).
  • Department of Health and Human Services (Sub-award PI, $450,420; 2015-2020). New Pathways for Fathers and Families (PI: Jetaunne Richardson, Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Services).
  • Institute of Education Sciences (Co-PI, $249,422; 2016-2018). A Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial of Function-based Check-In/Check Out (Co-PIs: D. A. Klingbeil, R. Azen, & E. H. Dart).
  • U.S. Department of Education (Supporting, $4,932,897; 2017-2020). UWM/MPS Asset-Based Cultural Competence Ensuring Student Success (ACCESS) (Co-PIs: K. L. Taylor & D. M. Pasternak).
  • National Science Foundation Noyce grant (Sub-award Co-PI, $70,000; 2017-2022). The Carthage Noyce Scholarship Program: A Community Building Approach to Preparing Secondary Science and Math Teachers (Co-PIs: R. Swaminathan & R. Azen).
  • Lee, H. & Larson, C. (Co-PIs); Azen, R. (evaluation and statistics consultant). National Institutes of Health (NIH R61/R33 R61MH125127; $3,929,761; 2022-2027). Neurobehavioral mechanisms of response inhibition training for obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions.
  • Zhao, T., & Azen, R. (Co-PIs; sponsored research award). Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute ($50,000; January – April, 2024). Emphasizing Student Achievement and Proficiency in School Report Cards.
  • Cipriano, D., & Parish, J. (Co-PIs); Azen, R. (evaluation and statistics consultant through CORE). Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin grant ($17,763.50 subcontract with UWM; June 30 – December 31, 2023). Student Proximity to Adverse Events: Incidence, Impact and Intervention.

Teaching Experience

Instructor

  • UWM Courses (University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee); September 2000 – present.
  • Advanced multivariate statistical methods (ICPSR summer program, University of Michigan); Summer 2002, 2003.
  • Introduction to Statistics (PSYC 235, University of Illinois); July – August 1999.

Teaching Assistant

Professional Service Activities

Other skills and Training

  • Programming experience in SAS, SPSS, SYSTAT, S-plus, C, LaTeX.
  • Resampling workshop, July 1996, conducted by Dr. R. Stein at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • Workshop on Multidimensional Analysis of Qualitative Data, November 1999, conducted by Dr. S. Nishisato at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

Awards