1. Research & Initiatives
  2. Research Centers & Labs
  3. Research Labs
  4. Robert H. Tai Research Group
  5. Project SpecSMT

Project SpecSMT

  • Research Project

What We Do

Project SpecSMT partners with the American Psychological Association to look at the impact of specialized high schools in science, mathematics, and technology.  

Project SpecSMT is a mixed methods project that seeks to analyze the contribution of specialized high schools over and above traditional high schools in talent development. This project seeks to answer the following questions:

  • Are graduates from these specialized schools more likely to remain in the science, mathematics, or technology pipeline?  
  • Is there a difference in instructional practices and what is their role on entrance and retention rates in these fields?  
  • Do specialized high schools provide for the development of a skill set that benefits those not entering a profession related to science, mathematics, or technology?

Affiliated Faculty

Robert H Tai

Robert H. Tai

  • Associate Professor

Related Lab

  • Research Lab

Robert H. Tai Research Group

The Robert H. Tai Research Group is a research team based at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia.  This multi-institutional team conducts quantitative and qualitative research on major issues in Science Education.  The overarching goal is to produce robust empirical data that targets national policy, with the outcome of developing science students into productive and contributing scientists.