February 2023
The AERA Executive Board and Council recently approved several petitions to support and advance the work of special interest groups (SIGs) within the association. At its February 3–4 meeting, AERA Council unanimously approved the establishment of a new SIG-in-Formation on Critical Quantitative Methodologies (SIG 186). The SIG-in-Formation seeks to promote new approaches and foster best practices for conducting and evaluating critical quantitative research; promote training for quantitative researchers on how to use these innovative, equity-centered perspectives and research methods to question models, measures, and analysis techniques; and build a scholarship community for critical quantitative researchers.
SIGs approved for formation by AERA Council are in an “in-formation” status for their first three years. During this period, a SIG-in-Formation works on substantive activities, membership recruitment, and program planning. At the end of that time, the AERA SIG Executive Committee reviews the SIG-in-Formation to determine whether to recommend to Council a transition to full SIG status.
In addition, Council unanimously approved a petition from the Peace Education SIG to change its name to the Critical Peace Education SIG (SIG 74). The name change is intended to better reflect current research in this arena that seeks not only to mitigate violence and conflict and promote a culture of peace, but also to address causes and indirect forms of violence and to work towards justice.
At its February 2 meeting, the AERA Executive Board unanimously approved three petitions from SIGs to establish new awards. All SIG award petitions are first reviewed by the AERA SIG Executive Committee and then advanced to the Executive Board, which has responsibility for the approval of all SIG and division awards. The recently approved SIG awards are as follows:
SIGs are important research communities within AERA. SIGs are intra- or cross-divisional in nature and seek to increase the exchange of knowledge within research arenas of special interest. There are currently 153 SIGs in AERA. For more information about SIGs, please view the SIG Directory. AERA members may add a SIG to their membership at any time by visiting their “My AERA“ page on the AERA website and then selecting “Purchase Additional SIG Memberships.”