May 2025

AERA will launch the 2025 Virtual Research Learning Series on June 3. The series, held throughout June, will feature three professional development and training courses designed to enhance research capacities and skill sets.

The courses focus on topics in data analysis and data analytic techniques, each from the vantage of different research methods. Led by an expert faculty of researchers and scholars, the courses are structured at various levels to reach graduate students, early career scholars, practitioners, and other researchers who aim to expand their general understanding of research findings or enhance their data analytic skill set for their next research project or study. All courses will provide dynamic instruction, with active discussion, access to course materials, and Q&A with participants.

The courses include:

RL2025-1: An Introduction to Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Tuesday, June 3, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET
Instructor: Johnny Saldaña (Arizona State University)

RL2025-2: An Introduction to Missing Data Analyses for Educational Research
Wednesday, June 11, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET
Instructors: Brian T. Keller (University of Missouri) and Craig K. Enders (University of California, Los Angeles)

RL2025-3: Quantitative Tools for Qualitative Data Analysis: A Truly Equal Status Data Science Design for Transparency, Rigorosity, and Story Telling
Tuesday, June 17, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET
Instructor: Manuel González Canché (University of Pennsylvania)

Course descriptions and registration information are at VRLS-2025. AERA is charging a modest course fee of $40 each ($55 for non–AERA members). Registration includes both the four-hour live class experience and continued on-demand access to the course recording through the AERA Virtual Research Learning Center (VRLC).

“We are enthusiastic about the strong program of courses the AERA Professional Development and Training Committee is offering this year” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “These courses aim to build research capacity across methodological and substantive areas.”

Early registration is encouraged. Questions about the courses should be directed to profdevel@aera.net.