The Structural Equation Modeling SIG invites graduate students to submit a research paper for consideration for the Outstanding Graduate Student Award. This award is given for an exemplary graduate student research paper that contributes to methodological research in structural equation modeling. The paper must be accepted for presentation at the annual AERA meeting. Papers must be the final version and aligned with standards for publication in an academic journal. Students must be the first author of the paper. The winner of this award will be recognized at the SEM SIG annual business meeting.
Nominations are encouraged from both domestic and international graduate students for the SEM SIG Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award. Both self-nominations and nominations from a faculty supervisor are allowed. Nominees must meet the following eligibility criteria for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award:
1) The paper must be officially accepted for presentation at the annual AERA meeting.
2) The nominee must be the first/sole author and presenting author on a paper accepted for presentation at the annual AERA meeting. The nominated student can work with faculty and graduate co-authors on the paper that is being presented.
3) The paper should consist of original research that has not been presented or published elsewhere.
4) The final version of the research paper, which should be similar to a manuscript being submitted to a journal (e.g., the Structural Equation Modeling journal), will be evaluated.
The call for nominations will be announced using the SIG listserv on December 1, following the notification of acceptance to present at AERA in the following spring. Students are allowed to self-nominate for this award. The close of nominations will be on December 31. Student nominees will submit the following materials to the SIG Chair electronically:
1) Email indicating that they would like their paper considered for the award.
2) The final version of the research paper, which should be similar to a manuscript being submitted to a journal (e.g., the Structural Equation Modeling journal).
The award committee will be comprised of three members, including the SIG Chair, SIG Co-Chair, and the SIG secretary/treasurer. If there is a conflict of interest associated with a committee member, their respective committee member (e.g., Co-Chair) from the previous year will be appointed to serve on the committee in their place.
After the call for nominations close on December 31, the award committee (i.e., SIG Chair, SIG Co-Chair, and SIG secretary/treasurer) will review the submitted papers beginning on January 1. The submitted papers will be reviewed using the following criteria:
1. Objectives/Purposes of the paper are adequately justified
2. Methods, Techniques, or Mode of Inquiry are suitable to help answer research questions
3. Scientific or Scholarly Significance of the work in the field Each criterion will be rated using the following scale (1=Needs Improvement, 2=Meets Expectations, & 3=Exceeds Expectations).