Hello! I am Chenchen Lu (陆晨晨), a Ph.D. Candidate in Social Studies Education from Purdue University, with a crucial disciplinary specialization: a concurrent M.S. in Applied Statistics and Computational Data Science. My research focuses broadly on social science/studies education, teacher cognition and identity, and curriculum and instruction, integrating theoretical, empirical, and practical perspectives. My scholarship is distinguished by its integration of advanced quantitative methods to address persistent questions in our field:
- Teacher Cognition and Cultural Dynamics: My work explores the mechanisms by which social studies teachers' perceived dynamic of cultural (ir)relevance and pedagogical sensitivity mediate instructional decisions, particularly in designing and implementing inquiry-based, justice-oriented curricula.
- Systemic Equity in Civic Outcomes: I use large-scale data and Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to rigorously analyze how instructional exposure contribute to inequities in students’ civic learning and achievement.
- Methodological Core: My research is grounded in a strong foundation of applied psychometrics and computational approaches (e.g., Structural Topic Modeling for text analysis). This specialization allows me to develop and validate novel assessment instruments and to model complex relationships.
My goal is to produce empirically defensible, high-leverage findings that inform the next generation of curriculum design, teacher preparation, and evidence-based policy for K–12 civic and historical learning. I welcome collaboration on projects that bridge theory, computation, and policy to create sustainable and equitable educational change.
Contact
Chenchen Lu
Ph.D. Candidate (Social Studies Education)
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Purdue University College of Education
4108 Beering Hall
100 N University St
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098