Career Profile
I’m a behavioral researcher and data scientist with experience in academic, industry, and non-profit settings. My published research has focused on how behavior and cognitive processes change over time and vary across contexts, with implications for social and educational policy. I collaborate with product development teams to identify and to analyze the data needed to understand their target users. I also help organizations develop data strategies that improve their analyses and workflows.
Rather than presenting a traditional CV, I’ve organized this website by research area and analytical method. Each section highlights my expertise and its applications; select a topic to view related work.
Research Methods
Explore how computational methods can reveal patterns in language, learning, attention, and behavior. Apply natural language processing and machine learning to analyze complex data and investigate opportunities for AI-supported research and assessment.
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Kanaya, T., & Kussmaul, C. (2025). Insights from natural language processing of short-response questions in a learning activity. Paper presented at the international meeting of Technology 4 Education, Chennai, India.
Kanaya, T., & Magine, A. (2024). How can the current state of AI guide future conversations of general intelligence? Journal of Intelligence, 12(3), 36–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence12030036
Use advanced statistical techniques to uncover relationships and examine change over time. Expertise includes structural equation modeling, growth curve analysis, ANOVA, binomial regression, hierarchical linear modeling, and propensity score analyses.
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Kanaya, T., Wai, J., & Miranda, B. (2019). Exploring the links between receiving special education services and adulthood outcomes. Frontiers in Education, 4, 1–13. DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2019.00056
Kanaya, T., Ceci, S. J., & Scullin, M. H. (2005). Age differences in secular IQ trends: An individual growth modeling approach. Intelligence, 33, 613–621.
Design rigorous studies that examine motivation, memory, self-efficacy, and decision making. Combine experimental and survey methods to test hypotheses, identify meaningful patterns, and translate findings into evidence-based recommendations.
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*Deer, L. K., *Gohn, K. M., & Kanaya, T. (2018). Anxiety and self-efficacy as sequential predictors of US college students’ career preparation. Education + Training, 60, 185–197. DOI: 10.1108/ET-07-2017-0096
Principe, G. F., Kanaya, T., Ceci, S. J., & *Singh, M. (2006). Believing is seeing: How rumors can engender false memories in preschoolers. Psychological Science, 17, 243–248.
Research Applications
Examine how program design and user experience influence technology adoption. Compare training formats to identify approaches associated with greater adoption and develop recommendations for improvement.
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Kanaya, T., Light, D., & Culp, K. M. (2005). Factors influencing outcomes from a technology-focused professional development program. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 37, 313–329.
Martin, W., Heinze, C., Kanaya, T., Perez, H., & Hupert, N. (2005). Trends in use of handheld technology to support student reading assessment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Informational Technology and Teacher Education, Phoenix, AZ.
Develop measures of cognitive processes, emphasizing validity, reliability, rigor, and fairness. Identify scalable assessment practices that accurately measure abilities and outcomes.
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Kanaya, T., & Ceci, S. J. (2007). Are all IQ scores created equal? The differential costs of IQ cut-off scores for at-risk children. Child Development Perspectives, 1, 52–56.
Scullin, M. H., Kanaya, T., & Ceci, S. J. (2002). Measurement of individual differences in children’s suggestibility across situations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 8, 233–246.
Evaluate the effectiveness and return on investment of programs, identifying opportunities for improvement. Analyze publicly available datasets to investigate policy-related questions and inform evidence-based recommendations.
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Kanaya, T., & *Osthoff-Magalhaes, I. (2013). A two-level approach to determine Imagine LA’s return on investment: Final Report. Berger Institute for Work, Family and Children.
Kanaya, T., Scullin, M.H. & Ceci, S.J. (2003). The Flynn effect and U.S. policies: The impact of rising IQ scores on American society via Mental Retardation diagnoses. American Psychologist, 58, 1-13
* Denotes student co-author/mentee.
Awards & Honors
My research has garnered awards, fellowships, and grants from organizations in measurement, psychology and education. Selected honors include:
- American Educational Research Association Div G Early Career Scholar
- American Psychological Association Div 33 Outstanding Student Research
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship
- John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation Faculty Fellowship
- Spencer Foundation Research Grant
- Women in Measurement, Inc. Research Fellow
Selected Media Coverage
My research has been featured in national and international media, including: