In the fall semester of 2024, the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science at Zhejiang University successfully conducted the English course Structural Equation Modeling and Its Applications. The course was delivered by Professor Karl Schweizer from the Department of Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt, with Professor Gao Zaifeng serving as the course coordinator and Associate Professor Wang Tengfei as the assistant instructor. The course has now been successfully concluded.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a crucial statistical analysis tool in psychological research, widely applied in areas such as behavioral measurement and data modeling. To address the previous learning bottleneck where students relied on self-study and struggled to achieve deep mastery, the Department of Psychology has invited internationally renowned Professor Karl Schweizer since 2018 to offer the Structural Equation Modeling course for undergraduates. Through systematic and in-depth instruction, the course helps students comprehensively grasp the application of this model. The course has received an enthusiastic response since its inception, and this year marks its seventh consecutive offering.
Professor Schweizer employed an internationalized teaching philosophy, emphasizing classroom interaction and discussion. He encouraged students to actively ask questions, stimulating thinking and participation, while closely integrating theoretical knowledge with practical issues. The entire course was recorded, providing students with ample resources for post-class review and helping them consolidate their learning outcomes. After the course, students overwhelmingly reported significant progress not only in their theoretical understanding of Structural Equation Modeling but also in their ability to analyze data and apply the model in practical contexts.
The successful implementation of this course has advanced the international education practices and collaborations within the department, while providing valuable experience for cultivating psychology professionals with global perspectives.
Course Instructor Profile:
With over 30 years of teaching experience and substantial research output, Professor Schweizer has profound expertise in psychometrics and statistics. He has held positions in psychology departments at three world-renowned German universities: Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Freiburg, and University of Tübingen, where he taught courses including Structural Equation Modeling. His teaching presents the fundamental knowledge of structural equation modeling and its applications in psychological research in an accessible yet profound manner, making it highly popular among both undergraduate and graduate students. Simultaneously, Professor Schweizer is an expert in psychometrics and statistics. He served as President of the European Association of Psychological Assessment (2009-2011), Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Psychological Assessment (2009-2013), and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Personality Psychology (2013-present). In 2017, he was awarded the Alfred-Binet-Preis lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contributions to the field of structural equation modeling. Professor Schweizer has led 7 major research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and has published over 120 papers in internationally renowned journals such as Structural Equation Modeling, Intelligence, Thinking Skills and Creativity, and Learning and Instruction. He has also authored more than 35 book chapters and edited over 10 academic volumes.
