Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
College of Education

Shenghai Dai

Shenghai Dai

Associate Professor
Educational Psychology

WSU Pullman
Cleveland Hall 354
PO BOX 642114
Pullman, WA  99164-2114
509-335-0958
s.dai@wsu.edu

Curriculum Vitae || Research Gate || Linkedin

The Large-Scale Data Lab

Research Interests

My research interests mainly lie in the investigations of the performance and utility of current and emerging psychometric frameworks that can provide formative and diagnostic information about student learning and achievement in various assessment settings. Particularly, I am interested in both methodological and applied aspects of (multidimensional) item response theory models, cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs), subscore reporting, differential item functioning (DIF), and large-scale assessment. I am also interested in applying statistical methods, such as missing data analysis, structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling, longitudinal modeling, and machine learning approaches in broad educational and psychological contexts. I am the director of the Large-Scale Data laboratory that is housed within the WSU Learning and Performance Research Center. Currently, I am serving as a statistical and methodological advisor of the Journal of School Psychology, an associate editor of Frontiers in Education – Assessment, Testing and Applied Measurement, and sit on editorial boards of Educational Researcher, the Journal of Experimental Education, and Psychology International.

  • Psychometrics: Item response theory, large-scale assessment, cognitive diagnostic models, differential item functioning, missing data issues
  • Quantitative Methods: Structural equation modeling, multivariate/multilevel modeling, longitudinal data analysis, machine learning applications in education research
Education
  • Ph. D., Inquiry Methodology, Indiana University Bloomington
    • Specialization: Psychometrics & Quantitative Methodology
  • M. S., Applied Statistics, Indiana University Bloomington
  • M. A., Language Testing, Beijing Language and Culture University
  • B. A., Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Beijing Language and Culture University
Teaching
  • Measurement & Psychometrics
    • ED_PSYCH 511 Classical and Modern Test Theory
    • ED_PSYCH 577 Item Response Theory
    • ED_PSYCH 578 Advanced Item Response Theory
    • ED_PSYCH 579 Large-Scale Surveys in Education
  • Statistics & Quantitative Methods
    • ED_PSYCH 512 Data Management & Visualization
    • ED_PSYCH 508 Educational Statistics
    • ED_RES 565 Quantitative Research
    • ED_PSYCH 569 Multivariate Data Analysis
    • ED_PSYCH 576 Factor Analytic Procedures
  • Others
    • ED_PSYCH 574 Seminar in Educational Psychology
Selected Accomplishments

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Measurement & Psychometrics

    • Dai, S., French, B.F., Finch, W. H. (in press). DIFplus: An R package for multilevel differential item functioning detection. Applied Psychological Measurement.
    • Danielson, R.W., Gale, M.S., Dai, S., Seyranian, V., Heddy, B., Marsh, J., & Polikoff, M.S. (2023). The development and validation of the elementary activity interest measure. Journal of Experimental Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2023.2276933
    • Svetina Valdivia, D. & Dai, S. (2023). Number of response categories and sample size requirements in polytomous IRT models. Journal of Experimental Education. 92 (1), 154-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2022.2153783
    • Kehinde, O.J., Dai, S., French, B. (2022). Item parameter estimation for multidimensional graded response model under complex structure. Frontiers in Education – Assessment, Testing and Applied Measurement. 7, 947581. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.947581
    • Dai, S. & Svetina Valdivia, D. (2022). Dealing with missing responses in cognitive diagnostic modeling. Psych. 4(2), 318-341. https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4020028.
    • Dai, S., Vo, T., Kehinde, O.J., He, H., Xue, Y., Demir, C., & Wang, X. (2021). Performance of polytomous IRT models with rating scale data: An investigation over sample size, instrument length, and missing data. Frontiers in Education – Assessment, Testing and Applied Measurement. 6, 721963. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2021.721963
    • Dai, S. (2021). Handling missing responses in psychometrics: Methods and software. Psych, 3, 673-693. https://doi.org/10.3390/psych3040043.
    • Wang, X., Svetina, D., & Dai, S. (2019). Exploration of factors affecting the necessity of reporting test subscores. Journal of Experimental Education, 87(2), 179-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2017.1409182
    • Dai, S., Svetina, D., & Chen, C. (2018). Investigation of missing responses in Q-matrix validation. Applied Psychological Measurement. 42(8), 660–676. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146621618762742
    • Svetina, D., Feng, Y., Paulsen, J., Valdivia, M., Valdivia, A., & Dai, S. (2018). Examining DIF in the context of CDMs when the Q-matrix is Misspecified. Frontiers in Psychology (section Quantitative Psychology and Measurement), 9:696, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00696
    • Dai, S., Svetina, D., & Wang, X. (2017). Reporting subscores using R: A software review. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 42(2), 617-638. https://doi.org/10.3102/1076998617716462
    • Svetina, D., Dai, S., & Wang, X. (2017). Use of cognitive diagnostic model to study differential item functioning in accommodations. Behaviormetrika, 44(2), 313-349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41237-017-0021-0
    • Svetina, D., Valdivia, A., Underhill, S., Dai, S., & Wang, X. (2017). Recovery of parameters in multidimensional item response theory models under complexity and nonormality. Applied Psychological Measurement, 41(7), 530-544. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146621617707507
    • Dai, S., Wang, X., & Svetina, D. (2019). The application of minimum discrepancy estimation in the implementation of diagnostic classification models. Behaviormetrika, 46, 453-481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41237-019-00094-4

Statistics & Quantitative Methods

  • Education
    • Vo, T., Dai, S., & French, B.F. (2024). Black girls’ mathematics and science identities using large-scale assessment and survey data: A QuantCrit framework. Methods in Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100158
    • Kangas, S., Dai, S., & Ardasheva, Y. (2024). The Intersection of language and disability: Progress of English learners with disabilities on NAEP reading. The Journal of Special Education, 58(2), 88-99. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224669231213054. 
    • Zhang, X., Dai, S., Ardasheva, Y., & Hong, Y. (2023). Relationships among English language proficiency, self-efficacy, motivation, motivational Intensity, and achievement in an ESP/EAP Context. Journal of Psycholinguist Research, 58, 3019-3038. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-023-10034-9.
    • Ramazan, O., Dai, S., Danielson, R., Ardasheva, Hao, T., & Y. Austin, B., (2023). Students’ 2018 PISA reading self-concept: Identifying predictors and examining model generalizability for emergent bilinguals. Journal of School Psychology. 101, 101254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2023.101254.
    • Dai, S., Hao, T., Ardasheva, Y., Ramazan, O., Danielson, R., & Austin, B. (2023). PISA reading achievement: Identifying predictors and examining model generalizability for multilingual students. Reading and Writing. 36, 2763-2795.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-022-10357-4. 
    • Zhang, X., Dai, S., & Ardasheva, Y. (2020). Contributions of (de)motivation, engagement, anxiety in English listening and speaking. Learning and Individual Differences, 79, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2020.101856.
    • Higheagle Strong, Z., McMain, E.M., Frey, K.S., Wong, R.M., Dai, S., & Jin, G., (2019). Ethnically diverse adolescents recount third-party actions that amplify their anger and calm their emotions after perceived victimization. Journal of Adolescent Research, 35(4), 461-488. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558419864021.
  • Psychology
    • Schmitter-Edgecombe, M., Luna, C., Beech, B., Dai, S., & Cook Diane. (accepted). Capturing cognitive capacity in the everyday environment across a continuum of cognitive decline using a smartwatch n-back task and ecological momentary assessment. Neuropsychology.
    • Schmitter-Edgecombe, M., Luna, C., Dai, S., & Cook Diane. (2024). Predicting daily cognition and lifestyle behaviors for older adults using smart home data and ecological momentary assessment. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2024.2330143.
    • Dai, S., Kehinde, O.J., Schmitter-Edgecombe, M., & French, B. (2022). Modeling daily fluctuations in everyday cognition and health behaviors at general and person-specific levels: A GIMME analysis. Behaviormetrika. 50, 563–583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41237-022-00191-x. 
    • Liu, Z., Roggio, R., Day, D., Zheng, C., Dai, S., & Bian, Y. (2019). Leader development begins at home: Over-parenting harms adolescent leader emergence. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104(10), 1226–1242. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000402.
  • Kinesiology 
    • Stewart, B.C., Dai, S., Havens, K., Eggleston, J.D., Bagwell, J., Deering, R.E., Little, E.E., & Catena, R. (2023). Determining fall risk change throughout pregnancy: The accuracy of postpartum survey and relationship to fall efficacy. Ergonomics. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2023.2296827.

Book Chapters

Software Packages

Grants & Contracts

  • 2025-2029, Co-Principal Investigator, Certifying and Advancing Multilingual Teachers by Increasing Numbers Through Three Grow-Your-Own Strands (CAMINOS). PI: Y. Ardasheva. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition National Professional Development program. Amount: $3,067,509.
  • 2024-2026, Principal Investigator, Examining test-taking behaviors of multilingual learners in NAEP digital assessments: Roles of accommodations, universal design elements, and item features. WSU College of Education Faculty Funding Award. Amount: $9,995.
  • 2024-2025, Co-Principal Investigator, Career and technical education to promote stem employment pathways for youth with disabilities. PI: J. Taylor. WSU College of Education Faculty Funding Award. Amount: $9,664.
  • 2022-2024, Co-Principal Investigator, Infusing teacher- and leader-preparation curriculum with case-based instruction focused on culturally responsive pedagogy and leadership. PI: Y. Ardasheva. WSU College of Education Faculty Funding Award. Amount: $9,976.
  • 2023-2024, Statistician, Creating adaptive, wearable technologies to assess and intervene for individuals with ADRDs. PI: Schmitter-Edgecombe, M. National Institute on Aging (#R35 AG071451), 2021-2026, Amount: $4,590,000.
  • 2023-2024, Statistician, Multi-modal assessment and intervention for functional independence. PI: Schmitter-Edgecombe, M. National Institute on Aging (#R01 AG065218), 2020-2025, Amount: $2,992,391.
  • 2022, Statistician, Clinician-in-the-loop smart technology to support health monitoring and intervention for chronic conditions. PIs: Cook/Fritz/Schmitter-Edgecombe. NIH: National Institute of Nursing Research (#R01 NINR016732), 2017-2022, Amount: $1,826,091.
  • 2021-2022, Co-Principal Investigator, Using case-based instruction to create authentic and effective classroom experiences for preservice teachers. PI: K. Carbonneau. WSU College of Education Faculty Funding Award. Amount: $9,705.
  • 2021-2022, Psychometrician and Statistician, Data analysis for the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire (MSLQ) project. (With A. Adesope). WSU Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Amount: $18,288.
  • 2019-2021, Principal Investigator, Education research in the era of big data – Evidence from large-scale surveys. CO-PI: K. Carbonneau. WSU College of Education High-Risk/High-Reward Grant. Amount: $10,000.
  • 2019-2021, Principal Investigator, Advancing education research using large-scale assessment data. WSU the Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships New Faculty Seed Grant Competition. Amount: $18,191.
  • 2019-2020, Psychometrician, Psychometric analysis for the IT-related self-efficacy measure. WSU Carson College of Business. (With D. Compeau). Amount: $6,000.