Beatriz is a Research Fellow in Quantitative Data/Statistics as part of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP).

Beatriz's research focuses on the study of disadvantage in young people, how to measure and model it to acknowledge that this is a problem with multiple dimensions and levels. This way of understanding disadvantage calls for a more holistic policy and practice approach, while highlighting priority areas. Her research uses large administrative and survey data and statistical analysis techniques such as multilevel modelling to find evidence about inequality between groups and the potential implications for equity. Beatriz is interested in the study of both existent inequalities and their implications for policy and practice, and the application of measuring and modelling techniques to understanding them.

Beatriz’s research contributes to the Faculty of Education’s ‘Transforming Teaching and Learning’, ‘Enhancing Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Shaping Digital Futures’ research priorities. She has worked collaboratively in the analysis of classroom positioning data that identify students at risk of isolation; studying the role of the socio-ecological factors in young people’s sense of belonging; the role that teachers play in the development of students’ digital citizenship skills in Asia-Pacific; and analysing differences in the Australian public perceptions of Artificial Intelligence. Beatriz also contributes to the quantitative research capacity of the Faculty by organising and delivering workshops for staff and postgraduate students about statistical methods of analysis that can be applied in educational research.

Beatriz has over ten years of experience in quantitative educational research and is knowledgeable in a variety of statistical analysis techniques, including regression analysis, multilevel modelling, impact-evaluation methods and structural equation modelling. She completed her PhD in Advanced Quantitative Methods as part of the Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the School of Education, University of Bristol, UK, funded by the ESRC. Beatriz has also worked as PhD intern for the Welsh Government (United Kingdom) and in different research positions at the Research Centre in Economics and Finance, Universidad Icesi (Colombia). Beatriz has participated in multiple international conferences, including the AERA Annual Meeting, the European Congress of Methodology, EARLI SIG 18 & 23 and LAK and has co-authored three books and multiple refereed journal articles.

Quantitative research in education, including

• Analysis of administrative and secondary data to study inequality in educational outcomes. 
• Comparison of quantitative methods for the analysis of such data.
• Impact evaluation, especially of large-scale interventions.
• Analysis of multilevel data structures.