Stephen G. West

Stephen G. West is a distinguished Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University with an illustrious career spanning over five decades. His expertise primarily lies in experimental and quasi-experimental designs, statistical methods, personality research, and applied social psychology. His work significantly contributes to research on health, mental health, substance abuse, and education. Born in Los Angeles, California, Dr. West completed his B.A. in Psychology at Cornell University in 1967. He then pursued graduate studies at the University of Texas, earning his M.A. in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1973, both in Social Psychology, with a minor in Quantitative Psychology. Dr. West’s academic journey began with roles such as Statistical Assistant and Research Assistant at Cornell University. He later held positions at institutions like the University of Wisconsin, Florida State University, Duke University, UCLA, and multiple German universities, including the Universität Kiel and Universität Heidelberg. Since 1985, he has been a Professor at Arizona State University. Recognized for his scholarly contributions, Dr. West has received numerous awards, including the Henry A. Murray Award for lifetime contributions to the study of lives (2000) and the Jacob Cohen Award for Teaching and Mentoring from the American Psychological Association (2006). He was also honored with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Forschungspreis for lifetime research contributions (2009) and received the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Donald T. Campbell award for distinguished achievement in social psychology (2024). Throughout his career, Dr. West has been actively involved in academic service, including leadership roles in the American Psychological Association’s Division 5 (Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics) and the Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology. He has served on various committees, such as the National Institute of Mental Health’s panel on psychosocial research in prevention and the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Obesity Prevention Decision Making. Dr. West’s research interests focus on experimental and quasi-experimental designs, statistical methods, personality research, and applied social psychology, particularly concerning health and prevention. His methodological expertise includes structural equation models, multiple regression, advanced statistical graphics, and longitudinal designs. His membership in professional societies includes fellow status in multiple divisions of the American Psychological Association, including Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation (Division 5), Personality and Social Psychology (Division 8), Community Psychology (Division 27), and Health Psychology (Division 38). Additionally, he is a member of the Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology and the American Statistical Association. Dr. West has been an editor or associate editor for several prestigious journals, such as Journal of Personality, Psychological Methods, and Multivariate Behavioral Research. He has published numerous influential books and articles, contributing significantly to the field of psychology. His work on statistical methodologies, particularly related to health and prevention research, continues to shape best practices in psychological research. Stephen G. West’s remarkable career exemplifies excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship. His contributions have profoundly impacted quantitative psychology and social psychology, making him a highly respected figure in his field. Stephen G. West is professor of psychology at Arizona State University. He is past editor of the Journal of Personality, Psychological Methods, and Multivariate Behavioral Research. He currently serves as associate editor of Multivariate Behavioral Research and on the editorial boards of several methodological and substantive journals. He has held regular or visiting faculty positions at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Florida State University, University of Texas at Austin, Duke University, and UCLA in the United States, and Universität Kiel, Universität Heidelberg, and Freie Universität Berlin in Germany. West has received multiple awards, including the ASU Graduate School’s outstanding graduate mentor award, Division 5’s (Evaluation, Statistics, and Methods) Jacob Cohen award for outstanding teaching, and the Board of Educational Affairs’ Outstanding Graduate Teaching of Psychology as a core STEM Discipline Award from the American Psychological Association (APA). He has received Division 8’s (Personality and Social Psychology) Henry Murray award for lifetime contributions to the study of lives and Division 5’s Samuel Messick Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award for scientific contributions within the field of quantitative research methods from the APA, the Saul Sells award for distinguished multivariate research from the Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology, and the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Forschungspreis for lifetime contributions to research methods. His methodological work is in causal inference, experimental and quasi-experimental research designs, multiple regression, structural equation modeling, and longitudinal data analysis. His substantive research is in the areas of personality and in prevention-related issues in health, mental health, and education. He is co-author of over 150 articles, 30 chapters, and 13 books and edited volumes. He is most proud of the many graduate students with whom he has worked who have gone on to careers at major research universities, some of whom have received awards for their early career contributions.