Mary Lee Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Lee Smith |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Colorado Boulder |
| Occupation(s) | Professor, academic researcher |
| Known for | Meta-analysis |
| Notable work | The Benefits of Psychotherapy |
Mary Lee Smith is an American researcher and academic, whose work spanned across fields frompsychology, toresearch methodology, toeducation reform. She is a Regents' Professor Emeritus of education policy and measurement, statistics, and research methodology atArizona State University.[1] Smith, along withGene Glass, were known for their pioneering work in usingmeta-analyses for reporting research outcomes.
Smith attended theUniversity of Colorado Boulder on a scholarship for her undergraduate studies. Going against advice to become a high school teacher, Smith returned to the University of Colorado Boulder to earn a PhD in counseling psychology.[2]
Following her doctorate, Smith joined the faculty at the University of Colorado in research methodology.[2] There, she worked closely with Gene Glass in incorporating meta-analyses into research. Interviews conducted byMorton Hunt revealed that Smith worked along Glass in locating the studies, constructing the sample, assessing the materials, coding, and calculating effect sizes.[3][4] Smith and Glass were later co-principal investigators on several important studies using meta-analyses in psychology,[5] and together with Thomas Miller, published the bookBenefits of Psychotherapy in 1980.
Later on, Smith became a faculty member at Arizona State University, where her research interests focused on school and education policy. She has published numerous publications on education policy,[1] and published the book,Political Spectacle and the Fate of American Schools in 2003.