ACT Research

Advancing insight and fostering innovative and collaborative research that transforms education and workplace success and influences policy and practice.

Research in the News

Find out more about ACT research and how it is connecting assessment and learning to College and Career readiness.

It Means the World to Me

ACT
 June 10, 2025
Categories: ACT Center for Impact and Learning, ACT Scholar, Guest Blog
ACT established the ACT Scholars program to nurture the academic talent of graduate and community college students at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, respectively. These institutions share ACT’s commitment to helping all learners achieve their college and career goals. Each ACT Scholar’s story reflects r

Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Stories of Resilience, Strength, and Community

ACT
 June 4, 2025
Categories: ACT Center for Impact and Learning, ACT Scholar
Higher education holds the promise of opportunity, transformation, and success, but for many students, especially those who are first-generation college students, the road to higher education is fraught with unique challenges. ACT spoke with three inspiring individuals whose stories of resilience offer unique insights into how s

Why We Do This Work: A Decade of College Access at Philip Barbour High

ACT
 June 2, 2025
Categories: ACT Center for Impact and Learning, Educator Resources, Guest Blog
By: Kim Burnett, school counselor, Philip Barbour High School, 2024 School of Excellence WinnerOver ten years ago, we began participating in college application events at Philip Barbour High School because our students needed more: more access, information, and support. Located in rural Barbour County, West Virginia, our communi

Research Publications

ACT research guides thought leadership and drives solutions that help individuals achieve education and workplace success.

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Services and Resources

In addition to publishing high-quality, research-based insights, ACT Research offers a suite of services designed to provide educators and workforce development professionals with tools, data, and services needed to make strategic education and career planning, assessment, and learning decisions.

Our Featured Experts

Alex Casillas

Alex Casillas is a Principal Research Psychologist in ACT’s Center for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning specializing in assessment design, behavioral predictors of performance and persistence in education and work settings, and implementation of SEL programming. His research increasingly focuses on helping historically underrepresented populations achieve more equitable outcomes in education and at work.

Chi-Yu Huang

Chi-Yu Huang is a lead psychometrician in Applied Research at ACT, Inc. She has extensive experience in operational psychometric procedures for licensure and certification examinations, computerized-based testing, and data forensics analyses.

Xin Li

Xin Li is a lead psychometrician in Research and Psychometrics. Her research interests include computer adaptive testing, statistical modeling, and practical issues in testing.

Patricia Muenzen

Patricia (Pat) Muenzen is a Director with the Credentialing and Career Services team. She conducts research to support professional workforce career development, professional licensure and certification programs, and has special expertise in practice analysis and competency profile development. 

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