Qi Zhang

Qi Zhang is an expert in causal inference, evaluation research design, and quantitative methods for synthesizing evidence across studies, with a focus on research methodology for educational evaluation. He conducts research that uses large-scale data to answer questions about what works in education, drawing on advanced meta-analytic methods to synthesize findings across large bodies of research and translate them into evidence that informs practice. His work also advances evaluation methodology itself, improving research methods so that questions about program and intervention effectiveness can be answered with greater precision.

Dr. Zhang currently leads and contributes to a portfolio of federally funded research projects at AIR, examining mediation and moderation mechanisms in educational interventions and developing guidance for applied researchers on advanced quantitative methods. His work has been disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and applications and tools that translate research findings for researchers and practitioners. He approaches his work with an emphasis on advancing the quality, transparency, and usability of research evidence for scholars, practitioners, and decision-makers across the education sector.