Professor of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Research Professor, Survey Research Center, Research Professor, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Center Director, Survey Research Center and Faculty Associate, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, Institute for Social Research

Biography
Dr. Davis-Kean’s research continues to evolve as she seeks the various pathways that socio-economic status (SES) of parents relates to the outcomes of their children. Davis-Kean’s primary focus is on parental educational attainment and how it can influence the development of the home environment throughout childhood, adolescence, and the transition to adulthood. Achievement is the primary outcome that she studies and she is an expert in the use of standardized test with children as well as using any type of assessment with young children. Davis-Kean stresses the importance of doing quality psychological research through the use of replication methods and large scale data sets. Students who seek to work with her should be willing and excited to learn advanced longitudinal statistics and think deeply about the how children develop within contexts.
Projects
Funded Research
- Assessing Children’s Learning Achievement Using Remote Video Technology
- Covid-19 Effects on Children & Families: 2021 Follow-Up of the PSID Child Development Supplement
- Transition to Adulthood within its Life Course & Intergenerational Family Context
- Transitions from Preschool through High School: Family, Schools & Neighborhoods
- Transitions from Preschool through High School: Family, Schools & Neighborhoods
Publications
- Kaitlin P. Ward, Andrew C. Grogan-Kaylor, Julie Ma, Garrett T. Pace, Lee,Shawna Jo, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2024. Interactions of gender inequality and parental discipline predicting child aggression in low- and middle-income countries. Child Development
- Olivia D. Chang, Helen Carmon Spink Meier, Kathryn Maguire-Jack, Pamela Davis-Kean, Colter Mitchell. 2024. Childhood Maltreatment and Longitudinal Epigenetic Aging. JAMA Network Open 7(7):e2421877-e2421877.
- Natasha Chaku, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2024. Positioning adolescence in the developmental timeline. Journal of Research on Adolescence
- Alexa Ellis, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2024. Analyzing teacher audio: The contribution of classroom mathematics instruction to early numeracy. The Journal of Educational Research
- Matthew H. Kim, Kristen Buford, Alexa Ellis, Pamela Davis-Kean, Chellam Antony, Claire Braun, Tabetha Hurst, Julia Todd. 2023. A metascience investigation of inclusive, open, and reproducible science practices in research posters at the 2021 SRCD biennial meeting. Child Development
- Lauren A. Tighe, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2023. Economic hardship trajectories of college-educated families living in or near poverty: Assessing predictors and outcomes. Family Relations
- Rebecca Ryan, Pamela Davis-Kean, Leticia Bode, Jule Krüger, Zeina Mneimneh, Lisa Singh. 2023. Parenting online: analyzing information provided by parenting-focused Twitter accounts. Atlantic Journal of Communication 31(3):243-259.
- Sammy Ahmed, Alexa Ellis, Kaitlin P. Ward, Natasha Chaku, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2022. Working memory development from early childhood to adolescence using two nationally representative samples. Developmental Psychology 58(10):1962-1973.
- Dearing, Eric, Casey, Beth, Pamela Davis-Kean, Eason, Sarah, Gunderson, Elizabeth, Levine, Susan C., Laski, Elida V., Libertus, Melissa, Lu, Linxi, Lombardi, Caitlin McPherran, Nelson, Ariadne, Ramani, Geetha, Susperreguy, María Inés . 2022. Socioeconomic Variations in the Frequency of Parent Number Talk: A Meta-Analysis. Education Sciences 12(5):312.
- Waters,Nicholas, Ahmed,Sammy F, Tang,Sandra, Frederick J Morrison, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2021. Pathways from socioeconomic status to early academic achievement: The role of specific executive functions. Early Childhood Research Quarterly 54:321-331.
- Abigail G. Richburg, Dominic P. Kelly, Pamela Davis-Kean, Abby Richburg. 2021. Depression, Anxiety, and Pubertal Timing: Current Research and Future Directions. University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Journal 15
- Margaret Shavlik, Pamela Davis-Kean, Jessica F. Schwab, Amy E. Booth. 2021. Early word-learning skills: A missing link in understanding the vocabulary gap?. Developmental Science 24(2):e13034.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Tighe,Lauren Adams, Waters,Nicholas. 2021. The Role of Parent Educational Attainment in Parenting and Childrenâs Development. Current Directions in Psychological Science 30(2):186-192.
- Joyce Y. Lee, Andrew C. Grogan-Kaylor, Lee,Shawna Jo, Tawfiq Ammari, Alex Lu, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2020. A Qualitative Analysis of Stay-At-Home Parentsâ Spanking Tweets. Journal of Child and Family Studies 29:817-830.
- Tang,Sandra, Pamela Davis-Kean, Waters, Nicholas, Ahmed, Sammy F. 2019. Executive function and academic achievement: Longitudinal relations from early childhood to adolescence. Journal of educational psychology 111(3):446-458.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Alexa Ellis. 2019. An overview of issues in infant and developmental research for the creation of robust and replicable science. Infant Behavior and Development 57:101339.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Hofferth, Sandra, Yeung, Wei-Jun J., Bickham, David S, Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne . 2018. Contributions of Research Based on the PSID Child Development Supplement. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 680(1):97-131.
- Ryan,Joseph P, John E Schulenberg, Pamela Davis-Kean, Williams-Butler, Abigail , McLoyd, Vonnie C. 2018. Relational Permanence and Psychological well-being among African American Adolescents in Foster Care. Journal of Child and Family Studies 27(10):3277-3287.
- Meichu Chen, Pamela Davis-Kean, Jackson, James Sidney, Nazroo, James , Zilanawala, Afshin , BÈcares, Laia , Kelly, Yvonne , Panico, Lidia , Sacker, Amanda . 2018. Socioemotional wellbeing of mixed race/ethnicity children in the UK and US: Patterns and mechanisms. SSM - Population Health 5:147-159.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Kovelman,Ioulia, Ellis, A , Hu, X , Smith, C E. 2018. Sharing as a model for understanding division. Neuroreport 29(11):889-893.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Meichu Chen, Olson, Sheryl L, Lansford, Jennifer E, Bates, John E, Pettit, Gregory S, Dodge, Kenneth A. 2018. Mapping the Growth of Heterogeneous Forms of Externalizing Problem Behavior Between Early Childhood and Adolescence: A Comparison of Parent and Teacher Ratings. Journal of abnormal child psychology 46(5):935-950.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Meichu Chen, Susperreguy, Maria Ines, Duckworth, Kathryn . 2018. Self-Concept Predicts Academic Achievement Across Levels of the Achievement Distribution: Domain Specificity for Math and Reading. Child development 89(6):2196-2214.
- Abigail B. Williams, Ryan,Joseph P, Pamela Davis-Kean, Vonnie C. McLoyd, John E Schulenberg. 2017. The Discontinuity of Offending Among African American Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Youth & Society 49(5):610 - 633.
- Michael R. Kramer, Eric B. Schneider, Jennifer B. Kane, Claire Margerison-Zilko, Jessica Jones-Smith, Katherine King, Pamela Davis-Kean, Joseph G. Grzywacz. 2017. Getting Under the Skin: Childrenâs Health Disparities as Embodiment of Social Class. Population Research and Policy Review 48(5):698-717.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Roach, Elizabeth , Viechnicki, Gail B, Retzloff, Lauren B, Lumeng, Julie C, Miller, Alison L. 2017. Family food talk, child eating behavior, and maternal feeding practices. Appetite 117(1):40-50.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Kramer, Michael R, Schneider, Eric B, Kane, Jennifer B, Margerison-Zilko, Claire , Jones-Smith, Jessica , King, Katherine , Grzywacz, Joseph G. 2017. Getting Under the Skin: Children's Health Disparities as Embodiment of Social Class. Population Research and Policy Review 48(5):698-717.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Jager, Justin . 2017. From Small to Big: Methods for Incorporating Large Scale Data into Developmental Science. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 82(2):31-45.
- Tang,Sandra, Pamela Davis-Kean, Meichu Chen, Holly R. Sexton. 2016. Adolescent Pregnancyâs Intergenerational Effects: Does an Adolescent Motherâs Education Have Consequences for Her Childrenâs Achievement?. Journal of Research on Adolescence 26(1):180-193.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Crosnoe, Robert , Benner, Aprile D. 2016. Preschool Enrollment, Classroom Instruction, Elementary School Context, and the Reading Achievement of Children from Low-Income Families. Family Environments, School Resources, and Educational Outcomes (Research in the Sociology of Education, Volume 19) :19-47.
- Tang,Sandra, Pamela Davis-Kean, Meichu Chen, Sexton, Holly R. 2016. Adolescent Pregnancy's Intergenerational Effects: Does an Adolescent Mother's Education Have Consequences for Her Children's Achievement?. Journal of Research on Adolescence 26(1):180-193.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Susperreguy, Maria Ines. 2016. Maternal Math Talk in the Home and Math Skills in Preschool Children. Early Education and Development 27:841-857.
- Christopher Joseph Trentacosta, Pamela Davis-Kean, Colter Mitchell, Luke Williamson Hyde, Dolinoy, Dana . 2016. Environmental Contaminants and Child Development. Child Development Perspectives 10(4):228-233.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Crosnoe, Robert , Purtell, Kelly M, Ansari, Arya , Benner, Aprile D. 2016. The Selection of Children From Low-Income Families into Preschool. Developmental psychology 52(4):599-612.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Jager, Justin , Maslowsky, Julie . 2015. Answering Developmental Questions Using Secondary Data. Child Development Perspectives 9(4):256-261.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Tang,Sandra. 2015. Parenting with Digital Devices. Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Meichu Chen, Pamela Davis-Kean, Watts, Tyler W, Duncan, Greg J, Claessens, Amy , Duckworth, Kathryn , Engel, Mimi , Siegler, Robert , Susperreguy, Maria I. 2015. The Role of Mediators in the Development of Longitudinal Mathematics Achievement Associations. Child development 86(6):1892-1907.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Simonton, Sharon Z., Zilanawala, A , Nazroo, J , Sacker, A , Kelly, Y . 2015. Race/ethnic disparities in early childhood BMI, obesity and overweight in the United Kingdom and United States. International journal of obesity 39(3):520-529.
- Tang,Sandra, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2015. The association of punitive parenting practices and adolescent achievement. Journal of Family Psychology 29(6):873-883.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Susperreguy, Maria-Ines . 2015. Socialization of maths in the home environment: using voice recordings to study maths talk / Socialización de matemáticas en el hogar: uso de grabaciones de voz para estudiar conversaciones matemáticas. Estudios de Psicologia 36(3):643-655.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Jager, Justin . 2014. Trajectories of Achievement Within Race/Ethnicity: "Catching Up" in Achievement Across Time. The Journal of Educational Research 107(3):197-208.
- Ryan,Joseph P, Pamela Davis-Kean, John E Schulenberg, Williams, Abigail B, McLoyd, Vonnie C. 2014. The Discontinuity of Offending Among African American Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Youth & Society 49(5):610 - 633.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Watts, Tyler W, Duncan, Greg J, Siegler, Robert S. 2014. What's Past Is Prologue: Relations Between Early Mathematics Knowledge and High School Achievement. Educational Researcher 43(7):352-360.
- Tyler W. Watts, Greg J. Duncan, Robert S. Siegler, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2014. Whatâs Past Is Prologue: Relations Between Early Mathematics Knowledge and High School Achievement. Educational Researcher 43(7):352-360.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Justin Jager. 2014. Trajectories of Achievement Within Race/Ethnicity: âCatching Upâ in Achievement Across Time. The Journal of Educational Research 107(3):197-208.
- Falk,Emily, Luke Williamson Hyde, Colter Mitchell, Jessica Danielle Faul, Gonzalez,Richard D, Daniel P Keating, Kenneth M Langa, Frederick J Morrison, Megan E Patrick, Fabian T Pfeffer, Patricia A Reuter-Lorenz, Pamela Davis-Kean, Christopher Stephen Monk, John E Schulenberg, Heitzeg, M M, Martz, M E, Maslowsky, J , Noll, D C, Thomason, M E. 2013. What is a representative brain? Neuroscience meets population science. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110(44):17615-17622.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Olson, S L, Sameroff, A J, Lansford, J E, Sexton, H , Bates, J E, Pettit, G S, Dodge, K A. 2013. Deconstructing the externalizing spectrum: growth patterns of overt aggression, covert aggression, oppositional behavior, impulsivity/inattention, and emotion dysregulation between school entry and early adolescence. Development and psychopathology 25(3):817-842.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, C. Mendoza, Maria Ines Susperreguy. 2012. Pathways to college: Latino youth and the transition to higher education. Transitions across schools and cultures: Advances in motivation and achievement, Vol 17. :55-76.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Gershoff, Elizabeth T, Lansford, Jennifer E, Sexton, Holly R, Sameroff, Arnold J. 2012. Longitudinal Links Between Spanking and Children's Externalizing Behaviors in a National Sample of White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian American Families. Child development 83(3):838-843.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Mendoza, C , Susperreguy, Maria Ines. 2012. Pathways to college: Latino youth and the transition to higher education. Transitions across schools and cultures: Advances in motivation and achievement, Vol 17. :55-76.
- Elizabeth T. Gershoff, Jennifer E. Lansford, Holly R. Sexton, Pamela Davis-Kean, Arnold J. Sameroff. 2012. Longitudinal Links Between Spanking and Childrenâs Externalizing Behaviors in a National Sample of White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian American Families. Child development 83(3):838-843.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Meichu Chen, Siegler, Robert S, Duncan, Greg J, Duckworth, Kathryn , Claessens, Amy , Engel, Mimi , Susperreguy, Maria Ines. 2012. Early Predictors of High School Mathematics Achievement. Psychological Science 23(7):691-697.
- Pamela Davis-Kean. 2011. The use of large-scale data sets for the study of developmental science. Handbook of developmental research methods :148-162.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Jager, Justin . 2011. Same-sex Sexuality and Adolescent Psychological Well-being: The Influence of Sexual Orientation, Early Reports of Same-sex Attraction, and Gender. Self and Identity 10(4):417-444.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Magnuson, Katherine A, Sexton, Holly R, Huston, Aletha C. 2009. Increases in Maternal Education and Young Children's Language Skills. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 55(3):319-350.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Jager, Justin , Andrew Collins, W . 2009. The Self in Action: An Emerging Link Between Self-Beliefs and Behaviors in Middle Childhood. Child Development Perspectives 3(3):184-188.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Sexton, Holly R. 2009. Race Differences in Parental Influences on Child Achievement: Multiple Pathways to Success. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 55(3):285-318.
- Katherine A. Magnuson, Holly R. Sexton, Pamela Davis-Kean, Aletha C. Huston. 2009. Increases in Maternal Education and Young Childrenâs Language Skills. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 55(3):319-350.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Pettit, Gregory S, Magnuson, Katherine . 2009. Educational Attainment in Developmental Perspective: Longitudinal Analyses of Continuity, Change, and Process. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 55(3):217-223.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, L_Rowell Huesmann, Bates, John E, Collins, W A, Jager, Justin , Lansford, Jennifer E. 2008. Changes in the Relation of Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Behaviors Across Development. Child development 79(5):1257-1269.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Malanchuk, Oksana, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Messersmith, Emily E, Garrett, Jessica L. 2008. Career Development From Adolescence Through Emerging Adulthood: Insights From Information Technology Occupations. Journal of Adolescent Research 23(2):206-227.
- Pamela Davis-Kean. 2008. Self-esteem. Encyclopedia of Counseling. Vol 2.,Personal and Emotional Counseling :416-421.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Malanchuk, Oksana, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Goldstein, Sara E. 2007. Risk Factors of Sexual Harassment by Peers: A Longitudinal Investigation of African American and European American Adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence 17(2):285-300.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Malanchuk, Oksana, Taylor, Laramie D. 2007. Self-esteem, academic self-concept, and aggression at school. Aggressive Behavior 33(2):130-136.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Simpkins, Sandra D. 2006. Math and science motivation: A longitudinal examination of the links between choices and beliefs. Developmental psychology 42(1):70-83.
- N. Zarrett, O. Malanchuck, Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles,Jacquelynne S. 2006. Examining the gender gap in IT by race: Young adultsâ decisions to pursue an IT career. Women and information technology: Research on the reasons for under-representation :55-88.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Zarrett, N , Malanchuck, O . 2006. Examining the gender gap in IT by race: Young adults' decisions to pursue an IT career. Women and information technology: Research on the reasons for under-representation :55-88.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Simpkins, Sandra D. 2005. Parents' Socializing Behavior and Children's Participation in Math, Science, and Computer Out-of-School Activities. Applied Developmental Science 9(1):14-30.
- Eccles,Jacquelynne S, Pamela Davis-Kean. 2005. Influences of parentsâ education on their childrenâs educational attainments: the role of parent and child perceptions. London Review of Education 3(3):191-204.
- Sandra D. Simpkins, J. A. Fredricks, Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles,Jacquelynne S. 2005. Healthy mind, healthy habits: The influence of activity involvement in middle childhood. Middle childhood: Contexts of development
- J. Jacobs, Pamela Davis-Kean, M. Bleeker, Eccles,Jacquelynne S, O. Malanchuck. 2005. âI can do it but I donât want to.â The impact of parents, interests, and activities on gender differences in math.. Gender difference in mathematics :246-263.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Simpkins, Sandra D. 2005. The intersection between self-concepts and values: Links between beliefs and choices in high school. New directions for child and adolescent development 2005(110):31-47.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Wigfield, A , Schiefele, U , Roeser, R . 2005. Development of achievement motivation. Handbook of child psychology. Volume 3, Social, emotional, and personality development 6th
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S.. 2005. Influences of parents' education on their children's educational attainments: the role of parent and child perceptions. London Review of Education 3(3):191-204.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Linver, Miriam R. 2005. The slippery slope: What predicts math grades in middle and high school?. New directions for child and adolescent development 2005(110):49-64.
- Sandra D. Simpkins, Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles,Jacquelynne S. 2005. Parentsâ Socializing Behavior and Childrenâs Participation in Math, Science, and Computer Out-of-School Activities. Applied Developmental Science 9(1):14-30.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S.. 2005. Social executive functioning. Preparing educators to involve families : from theory to practice :44-50.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Simpkins, Sandra D, Fredricks, J A. 2005. Healthy mind, healthy habits: The influence of activity involvement in middle childhood. Middle childhood: Contexts of development
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Jacobs, J , Bleeker, M , Malanchuck, O . 2005. "I can do it but I don't want to." The impact of parents, interests, and activities on gender differences in math.. Gender difference in mathematics :246-263.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S., Goldstein, Sara E. 2005. Parents, Peers, and Problem Behavior: A Longitudinal Investigation of the Impact of Relationship Perceptions and Characteristics on the Development of Adolescent Problem Behavior. Developmental psychology 41(2):401-413.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Eccles, Jacquelynne S.. 2005. Influences and barriers to better parent-school collaborations. School-family partnerships: Promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children :202.
- Pamela Davis-Kean. 2005. The Influence of Parent Education and Family Income on Child Achievement: The Indirect Role of Parental Expectations and the Home Environment. Journal of Family Psychology 19(2):294-304.
- W. Jean Yeung, John F. Sandberg, Pamela Davis-Kean, Sandra L. Hofferth. 2001. Childrenâs Time with Fathers in Intact Families. Journal of Marriage and Family 63(1):136-154.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Yeung, Wei-Jun J., Hofferth, Sandra, Sandberg, John F. 2001. Children's Time with Fathers in Intact Families. Journal of Marriage and Family 63(1):136-154.
- Pamela Davis-Kean, Sandler, Howard M. 2001. A Meta-Analysis of Measures of Self-Esteem for Young Children: A Framework for Future Measures. Child development 72(3):887-906.