Yusuf Kara
Research Assistant Professor and CORE Senior Data Analyst
Center on Research and Evaluation
Education
Ph.D., Hacettepe University
Contact
Expressway Tower
6116 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400
Dallas 75206
Box 511
214-768-7716
ykara@smu.edu
About
Dr. Yusuf Kara is serving as a Research Assistant Professor at the Simmons School of Education and Human Development and a CORE Senior Data Analyst. He is primarily responsible for designing quantitative models and conducting advanced data analyses. Prior to joining Southern Methodist University, he served as a research Assistant at Anadolu and Middle East Technical universities in Turkey. During his scholar activities, he engaged in various research projects in the fields of education and human development, and taught introductory data analysis courses. Dr. Kara received his PhD in educational measurement and evaluation from Hacettepe University in Turkey.
Dr. Kara`s research interests primarily focus on advanced psychometric methods such as multilevel item response modeling, structural equation modeling and latent class analysis. He is also interested in the applications of Bayesian methods in educational and behavioral sciences for more effective research outcomes. In his dissertation, Dr. Kara proposed a Bayesian estimation method for extended multilevel item response model with heterogeneous within-group variances. He is currently working on research projects that are related to mediation of within-subject change and measurement of oral reading fluency through a psychometric model based on speed and accuracy outcomes. Dr. Kara is an affiliate with the SMU Data Science Institute.
Selected Publications
Kara, Y., Farmer, D. E., Wright, A., Kamata, A., Hujar, J., and Baker, S. K. (2024). Examining the effects of prekindergarten to second grade classroom quality on early elementary achievement. Front. Educ. 9:1370573. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1370573
Kara, Y., Kamata, A., Ozkeskin, E. E., Qiao, X., & Nese, J. F. T. (2023). Prediction of oral reading fluency scores by between-word silence times using natural language processing and random forest algorithm. Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling, 65(1), 36-54. https://www.psychologie- aktuell.com/fileadmin/Redaktion/Journale/ptam_2023-1/PTAM 1-2023_2_kor.pdf
Kara, Y., Kamata, A., Qiao, X., Potgieter, C. J., & Nese, J. F. T. (2023). Equating oral reading fluency scores: A model-based approach. Educational and Psychological Measurement. Published online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/00131644221148122
Kara, Y., & Kamata, A. (2022). Multilevel item response model with heterogeneous within-cluster variances. Journal of Experimental Education, 90(4), 962-980. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2020.1858015
Kahya, Y., Uluc, S., & Kara, Y. (2022). The bidirectional view of mother-infant interaction by gaze and facial affect. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry,33(1), 32-43. https://doi.org/10.5080/u25794
Kara, Y., Kamata, A., Gallegos, E., Patarapichayatham, C., & Potgieter, C. J. (2021). Evaluation of covariate balance as a quality indicator for propensity score matching analysis. Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, 12(4), 374-387. https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.993571
Selected Peer-reviewed Presentations
Wang, K., Kara, Y., Wilhelm, A.M., Hunnicutt, J., and Wright, A. (2024). Effects of Pre-K and Kindergarten classroom quality on student achievements. Presentation at AERA, 2024.
Kara, Y., Kamata, A., Ozkeskin, E. E., & Qiao, X. (2023, April). Predicting oral reading fluency scores by silence time with natural language processing. Paper presented at the 2023 annual meeting of National Council on Measurement in Education, Chicago, IL.
Wright, A., Kara, Y., Cunningham, L., & Petrosino, A. J. (2023, April). Examining the effectiveness of the Upward Bound programs. Paper presented at the 2023 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Kara, Y., Wright, A., Cunningham, L., Johns, R., Ticzon, C., & Petrosino, A. J. (2023, April). College access program participants’ enrollment in postsecondary programs: An investigation of potential predictors. Paper presented at the 2023 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Wright, A., Kara, Y., & Gildin. B. L. (2023, April). Co-creation of a youth development scale: expanding possibilities for development and equity in community education spaces.Paper presented at the 2023 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Kara, Y., Hujar, J., Farmer, D. E., Nasr, A., Van Eaton, G., Wright, A., & Smerdon, B. (2023, April). The impact of same-race Teach for America teachers on student outcomes. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.