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About

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.

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Skills

Experience

Professor

Arizona State University (ASU)

Mar-1985 to Present
Visiting Professor

Freie Universität, Berlin

Mar-2003 to Mar-2007
Visiting Professor

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Mar-2002 to Mar-2003
Visiting Scholar

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

May-2000 to Mar-2002
Visiting Scholar

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Mar-1987 to Mar-1995
Head, Graduate Training Program

Arizona State University (ASU)

Mar-1986 to Mar-1987
Associate Professor

Arizona State University (ASU)

Mar-1981 to Mar-1985
Associate Professor

Florida State University (FSU)

Mar-1977 to Mar-1981
Visiting Assistant Professor

Duke University (DU)

Mar-1976 to Mar-1977
Visiting Assistant Professor

The University of Texas at Austin (Cockrell)

Mar-1975 to Mar-1976
Assistant Professor

Florida State University (FSU)

Mar-1972 to Mar-1975
Research Associate and Lecturer

University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW Madison)

Mar-1971 to Mar-1972
Teaching Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin (Cockrell)

Mar-1968 to Mar-1971
Research Assistant

Cornell University

Mar-1966 to Mar-1967
Visiting Professor

Heidelberg University

Jun-1997 to Jul-1997
Visiting Research Professor

Christian Albrecht University of Kiel (Kiel University (CAU))

Jun-1983 to Jul-1983
Visiting Professor

Heidelberg University

May-1984 to Aug-1984

Education

The University of Texas at Austin (Cockrell)

Ph.D. in Social Psychology

Passout Year: 1973
The University of Texas at Austin (Cockrell)

M.A. in Social Psychology

Passout Year: 1970
Cornell University

B.A. in Psychology

Passout Year: 1967

Publication

  • dott image February, 2025

Preventing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Youth: Integrative Data Analysis of Crossover Impacts of the Coping Power Preventive Intervention

Objective Despite evidence-based interventions for the psychiatric disorders that often precede suicidality, suicide remains a leading cause of death among youth. There has been increased i...

Horizons and Group Motivational Enhancement Therapy: HIV Prevention for Alcohol-Using Young Black Women, a Randomized Experiment

Introduction Black women are at disproportionately greater risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections than women of other ethnic/racial backgrounds. Alcohol use may further elevate th...

  • dott image March, 2018

Effect of early grade retention on school completion: A prospective study

This 14-year prospective study investigated the effect of retention in Grades 1–5 on high school completion (diploma, GED, or drop out). Participants were 734 (52.7% males) ethnically dive...

  • dott image March, 2017

Testing measurement invariance in longitudinal data with ordered-categorical measures.

A goal of developmental research is to examine individual changes in constructs over time. The accuracy of the models answering such research questions hinges on the assumption of longitudin...

The Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics Required for Face-to-Face Versus Computer-Mediated Communication: Similar or Distinct Cons...

Purpose This study investigated the convergence of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) required for either face-to-face (FtF) or text-based computer-mediated (CM...

  • dott image December, 2014

Learning to remember: cognitive training-induced attenuation of age-related memory decline depends on sex and cognitive demand, and can transfer to un...

Aging is associated with progressive changes in learning and memory. A potential approach to attenuate age-related cognitive decline is cognitive training. In this study, adult male and fema...

  • dott image March, 2014

Propensity scores as a basis for equating groups: Basic principles and application in clinical treatment outcome research

A propensity score is the probability that a participant is assigned to the treatment group based on a set of baseline covariates. Propensity scores provide an excellent basis for equating t...

  • dott image David C. Funder
  • dott image November, 2013

Improving the Dependability of Research in Personality and Social Psychology: Recommendations for Research and Educational Practice

In this article, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Task Force on Publication and Research Practices offers a brief statistical primer and recommendations for improving...

Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences

Journal : Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences

This classic text on multiple regression is noted for its nonmathematical, applied, and data-analytic approach. Readers profit from its verbal-conceptual exposition and frequent use of examp...

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Multiple Linear Regression

This chapter provides a comprehensive introduction to multiple regression analysis (MR), a highly flexible system for examining the relationship of a collection of independent variables (pre...

Projects

Jan-2020 to Mar-2025

Promoting effective coping by children exposed to post-divorce interparental conflict to reduce risk...

$851,177.00

Funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Jun-1984 to Jun-1986

Students against driving drunk: A national study

$210,000

Funded by National Institute on Alcoholism, and Alcohol Abuse,

Project Methodologist/Statistician
Jun-1972 to Jan-1973

Film violence and aggression

$2350

Funded by Florida State University

Principal Investigator

Conference/Seminar/STTP/FDP/Symposium/Workshop

Conference
  • dott image Mar 2010

Collaborative business process modeling using 3D virtual environments

Hosted By:

16th Americas Conference on Information Systems : Sustainable IT Collaboration around the Globe ,

Lima y Callao, Peru
Process modeling is a complex organizational task that requires many iterations and communication between the business analysts and the domain specialists involved in the process modeling. The challenge of process modeling is exacerbated, when the process of modeling has to be performed in a cross-organizational, distributed environment. Some systems have been developed to support collaborative process modeling, all of which use traditional 2D interfaces. We present an environment for collaborative process modeling, using 3D virtual environment technology. We make use of avatar instantiations of user ego centres, to allow for the spatial embodiment of the user with reference to the process model. We describe an innovative prototype collaborative process modeling approach, implemented as a modeling environment in Second Life. This approach leverages the use of virtual environments to provide user context for editing and collaborative exercises. We present a positive preliminary report on a case study, in which a test group modelled a business process using the system in Second Life. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/32263/
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Membership

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Member

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)

From year 1990 to 1991

Invited Position

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Invited keynote address

Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam

From year 2011 to 2011

Honours & Awards

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Donald T. Campbell award
Awarded by:

Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Year: 2024
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Renewed Research Stay in Germany Award
Awarded by:

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Forschungspreis

Year: 2023
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Herb Eber Award for Distinguished Service
Awarded by:

Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology

Year: 2017