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Faculty and Staff Profiles |
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Profile Christian E. Mueller received his doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2006. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University in 1991 and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1999. While working with disadvantaged adolescents in Denver, CO, Dr. Mueller observed how some adolescents, because of certain personality, motivational and cognitive characteristics, seemed more resilient in their ability to cope with and adapt to life stressors. From this, Dr. Mueller developed a fascination with understanding and enhancing those psychological, motivational, and socio-emotional processes that allow individuals to achieve to their fullest potential. Broadly, Dr. Mueller’s research interests focus on understanding, from a developmental or longitudinal perspective, the motivational, psychological and social processes that help transform academic potential into educational achievement, particularly in adolescent and gifted populations. A secondary research interest focuses on understanding and improving the methods that researchers employ in quantitative analysis and measurement (i.e. Rasch modeling); understanding that in order to effectively measure complex educational and psychological phenomena, empirically validated psychometric methodology is required. Dr. Mueller’s current research focuses on two main topics: a) understanding how theories of personality (i.e. identity and self-concept development) and achievement motivation (e.g. achievement goal theory) work to enhance or impede talent development in gifted adolescents, and b) understanding and improving how researchers measure complex cognitive abilities (i.e. practical intelligence and tacit knowledge) through use of the Rasch measurement model. Additional Information Adolescent Development (EDPR 7/8112) support files Education
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