Phillip K. Wood

Phillip K. Wood is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri, based in McAlester Hall. His research bridges advanced statistical methodology with psychological science, focusing on structural equation modeling, longitudinal analysis, and substance abuse applications. He maintains an active teaching role in both graduate and undergraduate programs while leading methodological innovation in psychological research.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota
• M.A. from the University of Iowa
• B.A., summa cum laude, from Wartburg College

Dr. Wood's research centers on structural equation modeling and longitudinal methodology, with specialized expertise in state-trait models and growth mixture analysis. His work extends to substance abuse research in young adult populations and adult intellectual development, while maintaining a strong foundation in Philosophy of Science through annual organization of the Transcontinental Karl Popper Conference since 2021. This dual focus on methodological rigor and applied psychological questions defines his scholarly contributions.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent innovation in statistical modeling techniques, particularly in adapting structural equation frameworks for complex longitudinal data and substance abuse applications. His work frequently develops new estimation approaches while maintaining strong connections to real-world psychological phenomena, especially in developmental trajectories and comorbidity patterns.

Dr. Wood directs the Quantitative Lab area within the Psychology department, fostering methodological expertise across research domains. His teaching portfolio includes graduate courses in Latent Variable Modeling (Psych 9720) and Advanced Latent Variable Models (Psych 9750), alongside undergraduate Research Methods (Psych 3010), where he emphasizes practical application of sophisticated statistical techniques through resources like his SAS examples repository and SEM book.