| Mary Lee Smith | |
| Birth Name: | Mary Lee Smith |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alma Mater: | University of Colorado Boulder |
| Occupation: | Professor, academic researcher |
| Known For: | Meta-analysis |
| Notable Works: | The Benefits of Psychotherapy |
Mary Lee Smith is an American researcher and academic, whose work spanned across fields from psychology, to research methodology, to education reform. She is a Regents' Professor Emeritus of education policy and measurement, statistics, and research methodology at Arizona State University.[1] Smith, along with Gene Glass, were known for their pioneering work in using meta-analyses for reporting research outcomes.
Smith attended the University of Colorado Boulder on a scholarship for her undergraduate studies. Going against advice to become a high school teacher, Smith returned to the University of Colorado Boulder to earn a PhD in counseling psychology.[2]
Following her doctorate, Smith joined the faculty at the University of Colorado in research methodology.[2] There, she worked closely with Gene Glass in incorporating meta-analyses into research. Interviews conducted by Morton Hunt revealed that Smith worked along Glass in locating the studies, constructing the sample, assessing the materials, coding, and calculating effect sizes.[3] [4] Smith and Glass were later co-principal investigators on several important studies using meta-analyses in psychology,[5] and together with Thomas Miller, published the book Benefits of Psychotherapy in 1980.
Later on, Smith became a faculty member at Arizona State University, where her research interests focused on school and education policy. She has published numerous publications on education policy,[1] and published the book, Political Spectacle and the Fate of American Schools in 2003.