Sonja Breuer

Dr. Sonja Breuer is a Senior Scientist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Salzburg, specifically affiliated with the Department of Psychological Diagnostics within the Faculty of Social Sciences. She has been actively contributing to academic research and teaching since 2016 and currently holds a full-time research position.

Her educational background is deeply rooted at the University of Salzburg, where she completed her Bachelor’s (2007–2010), Master’s (2010–2015), and Doctoral degree (2015–2021) in Psychology. Her academic development reflects a strong continuity and specialization in psychological assessment and diagnostics.

Dr. Breuer’s research centers on the psychometric evaluation of achievement and aptitude tests, particularly focusing on how different response formats—such as multiple-choice versus free-response—affect test outcomes, fairness, and validity. She has conducted extensive meta-analyses in this domain and developed a novel figural matrix test to assess deductive reasoning using innovative response formats. Her interests also extend to personality diagnostics and the prediction of pilot training success, bridging cognitive and personality psychology in applied settings.

Her recent publications, spanning from 2020 to 2024, reflect a consistent and impactful research trajectory in educational and psychological assessment. These works appear in high-quality journals such as Personality and Individual Differences, Royal Society Open Science, and Frontiers in Education, demonstrating interdisciplinary relevance and methodological rigor. The articles collectively emphasize meta-analytic approaches, psychometric validation, and the practical implications of test design on fairness and performance.

She has collaborated closely with researchers such as Tuulia M. Ortner and Thomas Scherndl, indicating sustained research partnerships within her department. While no formal advising of students is mentioned, her role as a lecturer and project assistant in earlier roles suggests involvement in teaching and mentorship.

Dr. Breuer’s work contributes significantly to advancing fair and valid psychological assessment tools, with applications in educational, occupational, and clinical settings. Her ongoing research continues to influence best practices in test development and assessment methodology.