Patrick Meyer, PhD
Vice President of Psychometrics and Analytics
Patrick Meyer manages a team of psychometricians, data analysts, and technical writers responsible for large-scale assessments at NWEA. His team oversees several high-stakes state assessments and through-year programs, MAP Growth assessments, and MAP Reading Fluency. Dr. Meyer’s research interests include item response theory, teaching observation measures, and psychometric software design and development. He is the inventor and lead developer of jMetrik, an open-source software program used in over 20 countries.
Dr. Meyer has authored two books and published over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Educational Measurement, Applied Psychological Measurement, and Educational and Psychological Measurement. He has conducted 25 standard-setting workshops in the licensure and certification field and hosted numerous workshops on psychometric theory and the use of jMetrik for data analysis. Prior to joining NWEA in 2018, he was an associate professor with tenure in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, where he taught courses in educational measurement and applied statistics. He began his academic career in 2004 as an assistant professor at James Madison University’s Center for Assessment and Research Studies. Dr. Meyer holds a PhD in educational psychology and research from the University of South Carolina.
Publications by Patrick Meyer
Executive Summary: Content proximity spring 2022 pilot study
This executive summary outlines results from the Content Proximity spring 2022 pilot study, including information on the validity, reliability, and test score comparability of MAP Growth assessments that leverage this new item-selection algorithm.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Computer adaptive testing, Innovations in reporting & assessment, Test design
Content Proximity Spring 2022 Pilot Study Research Report
The purpose of this research report is to provide detailed information about updates to the MAP Growth item-selection algorithm. This brief includes results from the Content Proximity pilot study, including information on the validity, reliability, and test score comparability of MAP Growth assessments that leverage this new item-selection algorithm.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Computer adaptive testing, Innovations in reporting & assessment, Test design
The MAP Growth theory of action describes key features of MAP Growth and its position in a comprehensive assessment system.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Equity, Measurement & scaling, Test design
A comparison of item parameter estimates in Pychometrik and the existing item calibration tool
This study evaluates the performance of Pychometrik, a new item calibration tool, against the existing tool for MAP Growth.
Topics: Item response theory
The report documents the process NWEA followed to determine and validate the cut scores for fall, winter, and spring that can be used to identify students in Grades K–8 who have severe learning difficulties and need intensive intervention in reading and mathematics.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Guidance
This report presents the results of a mode comparability study conducted through simulations to evaluate how scores from MAP Growth administered on the constraint-based engine (CBE) compare to those administered on the current MAP Growth engine known as COLO.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Test design
Spanish MAP Growth Reading technical report
This technical report documents the processes and procedures employed by NWEA to build and support the Spanish MAP Growth Reading assessment.
Products: MAP Growth, MAP Spanish
Topics: Test design, Assessments in Spanish, Computer adaptive testing
