I am passionate about using quantitative analysis, research methods, and program evaluation to better understand how people learn and how educational institutions can be improved.
Shifang Tang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
- Faculty
Dr. Shifang Tang was born and raised in China and moved to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree in educational psychology with a concentration in bilingual education at Texas A&M University. After graduating in 2018, she worked as a research scientist, focusing on data analysis and program evaluation across multiple federally funded projects at Texas A&M. In September 2022, Tang started her position as an assistant professor at A&M-Commerce, where her professional goal is to make a difference in the lives of K-12 English learners and economically challenged students by investigating effective and research-based practices impacting student attitudes, motivation, learning strategies and academic achievement, and to offer her experience and expertise to her students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking and gardening.
A Conversation with Dr. Tang
What would you tell a student who is considering A&M-Commerce?
As a faculty member, I can tell you that we are committed to providing you with an exceptional education that is tailored to your needs and goals. Our student-centered teaching philosophy ensures that you will receive quality instruction in statistics and research methods, as well as personalized attention and support to help you succeed in your academic and professional pursuits. Our vibrant campus community offers countless opportunities for involvement, and we are confident that you will find your niche here.
What draws you to your discipline?
I am passionate about using quantitative analysis, research methods, and program evaluation to better understand how people learn and how educational institutions can be improved. This field allows me to apply statistical methods to analyze large data sets and draw meaningful conclusions from them, which I find both challenging and rewarding. Moreover, I am deeply committed to advancing the field of education through empirical research, and educational psychology provides me with the tools and methods to do so. Through my work, I hope to contribute to developing evidence-based practices that can be used to enhance teaching and learning in schools, universities, and other educational settings.
What has been your favorite course to teach?
I am particularly drawn to teaching courses in quantitative analysis, research methods, and program evaluation because I believe that these skills are essential for developing evidence-based practices that improve educational institutions. By teaching these courses, I hope to empower my students with the tools and techniques they need to evaluate research studies and conduct their own rigorous studies critically. I also enjoy helping students develop the ability to use data to inform decision-making and program evaluation, which can significantly impact the quality of education provided to students. Overall, I find that teaching these courses allows me to contribute to advancing educational research and practice in a meaningful way.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I've been passionate about gardening for years, and I'm still trying to convince my plants that playing dead isn't a garden game!
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2018
- M.A., Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, HuaZhong University of Science and Technology, 2007
- B.A., Scientific English, Hubei University of Technology, 2002
Research Interests
- Testing and measurement for diverse and underserved learners in ESL/EFL/bilingual settings
- Program evaluation and quantitative/qualitative analysis in educational research
- Learning motivation and strategies