Christian Mueller
Associate Professor
About Dr. Mueller
Christian E. Mueller received his doctorate in educational psychology from the University
of Kentucky in 2006. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Ohio University
in 1991 and a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado
at Denver in 1999. While working with disadvantaged adolescents in Denver, CO, Dr.
Mueller observed how some adolescents, because of certain personality, motivational
and cognitive characteristics, seemed more resilient in their ability to cope with
and adapt to life stressors. From this, Dr. Mueller developed a fascination with understanding
and enhancing those psychological, motivational, and socio-emotional processes that
allow individuals to achieve to their fullest potential.
Broadly, Dr. Mueller's research interests focus on understanding, from a developmental
or longitudinal perspective, the motivational, psychological and social processes
that help transform academic potential into educational achievement, particularly
in adolescent and gifted populations. A secondary research interest focuses on understanding
and improving the methods that researchers employ in quantitative analysis and measurement
(i.e. Rasch modeling); understanding that in order to effectively measure complex
educational and psychological phenomena, empirically validated psychometric methodology
is required.
Dr. Mueller's current research focuses on two main topics: a) understanding how theories of personality (i.e. identity and self-concept development) and achievement motivation (e.g. achievement goal theory) work to enhance or impede talent development in gifted adolescents, and b) understanding and improving how researchers measure complex cognitive abilities (i.e. practical intelligence and tacit knowledge) through use of the Rasch measurement model.
Education
Ph.D. Educational Psychology - University of Kentucky - 2006
MA Counseling Psychology/Counselor Education - University of Colorado at Denver -
1999
BSC Communications - Ohio University - 1991