Susan Embretson

Susan Embretson is a Professor of Psychology at the School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, with a distinguished career spanning modern psychometric theory and cognitive assessment methodologies.

Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota (1973).

Dr. Embretson pioneers the integration of cognitive theory into psychometric models, specializing in item response theory and cognitive diagnosis. Her groundbreaking work on "tests without items" leverages artificial intelligence for dynamic item generation targeting cognitive difficulty sources. Research spans fluid reasoning, spatial ability, mathematical reasoning, and verbal comprehension, fundamentally advancing personalized assessment.

Analysis of her 2012-2016 publications reveals sustained innovation in multicomponent latent trait modeling, cognitive complexity applications, and AI-driven test development. Key themes include diagnostic precision in mathematics assessment, cognitive load optimization, and personality impacts on test performance, establishing new paradigms in educational measurement.

She directs the Cognitive Measurement Laboratory at Georgia Tech, driving research at the intersection of cognitive science and psychometrics.