Jean-Baptiste Quillien earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology (Learning and Cognition) from the University of Minnesota. Born and raised in rural Brittany (west part of France), he moved to the United States of America in 2006. Dr. Quillien has many interests in life, ranging from creating graphic novels, art, watching films, and walking with his dogs. On the academic front, Quillien is also somewhat eclectic: cognition, cultural competence, and psychometrics are some of the large themes that best define his interest and expertise.
Cognition, Creative, Critical, and Scientific Reasoning
Cognition, Creative, Critical, and Scientific Reasoning
Quillien’s dissertation’s work consisted in establishing a new model of cognition, the “Z” model. The “Z” model is a tool that dynamically describes the reasoning processes (modes of thinking and their respective cognitive flexibilities) at the different stages of our problem-solving stages. This model is intended to help better understand the questions, “How do we think?” and “How we can enhance our thinking?”
Cultural Competence Research and Training Development
Cultural Competence Research and Training Development
Life experience and common interests with his spouse about living abroad and navigating across cultures led him to research and develop professional development geared toward diversity, equity, and inclusion. They have successfully created a protocol and a card game to implement their training.
Psychometrics, Development of Reliable and Valid Measures
Psychometrics, Development of Reliable and Valid Measures
The relationship between the abstract construct the scientists want to measure (e.g. happiness) and the concrete operational definition, the chosen measure (e.g. questionnaire about happiness): this relationship is the keystone of empirical research. Dr. Quillien has extended experience in valid and reliable measures development, from survey design to behavioral data collection.
Active Research
Active Research
Quillien is currently involved in a research project aiming at improving people with disabilities’ quality of life in the Republic Democratic of Congo. The focus will be to evaluate the impact of a series of interventions and trainings in the Kisangani region. Did those interventions enhance common folks' awareness about the condition of those who live with disabilities?
On the research front, Quillien is also involved with four active research aiming at applying the “Z” model of cognition. Research topics such as linguistic relativity, environmental organization, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving are under scrutiny.
Quillien is currently developing new research around the construct of resilience.