Li Cai

Professor

Li Cai is a statistician whose research encompasses educational and psychological measurement, computational statistics, and research design. He led the development of widely used item response theory software programs such as IRTPRO and flexMIRT. His research and development activities have been in the areas of statistics, assessment system design, mental health statistics, and patient-reported outcomes.

Departments

Department of Education

Programs

Social Research Methodology

Academic Advising Specializations

Expertise

Research Centers

Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, & Student Testing (CRESST)

Titles and Positions

Director, The National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)

Education

Ph.D., Psychometrics, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2008

Awards, Honors and Fellowships

2007 ETS, Gulliksen Psychometric Research Fellowship
2009 AERA, Outstanding Quantitative Dissertation Award
2010 NCME, Brenda H. Loyd Outstanding Dissertation Award
2011 APA, Anne Anastasi Early Career Award

2011 Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology, Elected Member
2012 Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology, Cattell Early Career Award
2012 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Select Publications

Cai, L., Yang, J. S. & Hansen, M. (2011). Generalized full-information item bifactor analysis. Psychological Methods, 16, 221-248.
Cai, L. (2010). Metropolis-Hastings Robbins-Monro algorithm for confirmatory item factor analysis. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 35, 307-335.
Cai, L. (2010). A two-tier full-information item factor analysis model with applications. Psychometrika, 75, 581-612.

Cai, L. (2010). High-dimensional exploratory item factor analysis by a Metropolis-Hastings Robbins-Monro algorithm. Psychometrika, 75, 33-57.
Cai, L., & Lee, T. (2009). Covariance structure model fit testing under missing data: An application of the supplemented EM algorithm. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 44, 281-304.