James Pustejovsky

Dr. Pustejovsky is an applied statistician, whose research aims to solve problems in how quantitative methods are employed in education and social science research. His work involves developing new statistical methodology, building computing tools, and providing guidance about how to use statistical methods in specific research contexts. His main area of scholarly interest is in meta-analysis, which is the set of statistical techniques for quantifying, summarizing, and synthesizing evidence from different sources (such as primary studies conducted by different researchers in different settings) in order to draw general conclusions about a phenomenon. Within meta-analysis, he has worked on problems of synthesizing effects that have an unknown dependence structure, problems of detecting selective reporting (publication bias), and methods for synthesizing the findings of single-case experimental designs. He often collaborates with scholars conducting large-scale research syntheses. Additional interests include causal inference methods, research design, and robust statistical methods.

Education

• PhD Statistics, Northwestern University, 2013
• BA Economics, Boston College, 2003

Select Publications

• Pustejovsky, J. E., Citkowicz, M., & Joshi, M. (2026). Estimation and inference for step-function selection models in meta-analysis with dependent effects. Research Synthesis Methods. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print   
• Pustejovsky, J. E. (2026). p-Uniform* is an estimator of the three-parameter selection model: Commentary on van Aert and van Assen (2026). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Grekov, P., & Pustejovsky, J. E., (2026). A gentle introduction to Bayesian posterior predictive checking for single-case researchers. Journal of Behavioral Education. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Pustejovsky, J. E., Zhang, J., & Tipton, E. (2026). A preliminary data analysis workflow for meta-analysis of dependent effect sizes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Chen, M., & Pustejovsky, J. E. (2025). Adapting methods for correcting selective reporting bias in meta-analysis of dependent effect sizes. Psychological Methods. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Grekov, P., Pustejovsky, J. E., & Klingbeil, D. A. (2025). Flexible distributional models for reading fluency outcomes from single-case designs: An examination using Bayesian methods. Journal of School Psychology. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Pustejovsky, J. E., & Chen, M. (2024). Equivalencies between ad hoc strategies and meta-analytic models for dependent effect sizes. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print
• Vembye, M. H., Pustejovsky, J. E., & Pigott, T. D. (2023). Power approximations for meta-analysis of dependent effect sizes. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics. Online Publication/Abstract, Pre-print

Select Presentations

• Pustejovsky, J. E. (2026). Using predictive fit to inform effect metric choice in meta-analysis. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Research Synthesis Methods, June 11, 2026 in Chania, Crete, Greece.
• Pustejovsky, J. E. (2026). Statistical methodology for social science meta-analysis: Outstanding needs and directions. Presidential address for the Society for Research Synthesis Methodology, June 10, 2026, Chania, Crete, Greece.
• Pustejovsky, J. E. (2025). What are we modeling? Using predictive fit to inform effect metric choice in meta-analysis. Presentation in the UW Madison Statistics Department Seminar, October 9, 2025, Madison, WI.
• Pustejovsky, J. E. (2025). A preliminary data analysis workflow for meta-analysis of dependent effect sizes. Presentation in the AERA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Special Interest Group Online Seminar Series, October 3, 2025 (online).
• Pustejovsky, J. E., Citkowicz, M., & Joshi, M. (2024). Models for examining selective reporting in meta-analysis with dependent effects. Presentation at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness Conference, September 21, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.
• Pustejovsky, J. E., Zhang, J., & Tipton, E. (2023). Equity-related moderator analysis in syntheses of dependent effect sizes: Conceptual and statistical considerations. Presentation at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness Conference, September 27, 2023 in Arlington, VA.

Select Awards and Honors

• H. I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship (2026), University of Wisconsin–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
• Open Scholarship Award (2025), University of Wisconsin–Madison Open Source Programs Office
• Frederick Mosteller Award for Distinctive Contributions to Systematic Reviewing (2023), The Campbell Collaboration
• Early Career Award (2021), Society for Research Synthesis Methodology