This dissertation is a collection of three papers. The first is a conceptual paper, followed by two data analysis papers. All three papers examine the connection between structural equation models and regression models, and how one may better learn, research and apply structural equation models when structural equation models are thought of as…

This multi-component study assesses perceived mechanisms through which undergraduate and graduate college students use social media and learning management systems (LMS) through multiple regression path modelling. The literature review outlines current work related to investigating the mechanisms of learning through LMS and social media, and…

We study flexible Bayesian methods that are amenable to a wide range of learning problems involving complex high dimensional data structures, with minimal tuning. We consider parametric and semiparametric Bayesian models, that are applicable to both static and dynamic data, arising from a multitude of areas such as economics, finance and…

As the theme of the 2022 annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, cultivating equitable education systems has gained renewed attention amid an increasingly diverse society. However, systemic inequalities persist for traditionally underserved student populations. As a way to better address diverse students' needs, it is of…