Educational Research and Evaluation
Heller Research Associates (HRA) is an educational research firm in Oakland, California that is co-directed by Joan I. Heller and Nicole Wong. Evaluation studies conducted at HRA combine quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess the impact on teachers, classrooms, and students of teacher professional development programs, as well as classroom curricula and instruction for students.
HRA evaluates publicly and privately funded projects aimed at improving teaching and learning in a variety of subjects including mathematics, science, and data science. The firm also develops and validates content assessments, surveys, observation protocols, clinical interviews, and online logs for use in research and educational settings. Areas of specialization include:
HRA evaluates publicly and privately funded projects aimed at improving teaching and learning in a variety of subjects including mathematics, science, and data science. The firm also develops and validates content assessments, surveys, observation protocols, clinical interviews, and online logs for use in research and educational settings. Areas of specialization include:
- Development of conceptual frameworks and logic models to represent program goals, strategies, and outcomes
- Observational studies of classroom learning environments
- Cognitive analysis of children's and adults' performance and expertise, thinking, problem solving, learning difficulties, and misconceptions
- Assessment of teacher pedagogical content knowledge
- Cognitive foundations of psychometric soundness; validity of rater reasoning