William Burton Michael

Background

Michael, William Burton was born on March 6, 1922 in Pasadena, California, United States. Son of William Whipple and Helen Augusta (Schultz) Michael.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, University of California at Los Angeles, 1943; Master of Science in Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 1945; Master of Arts in Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 1946; Doctor of Philosophy, University Southern California, Los Angeles, 1947.

Career

He started his teaching career at Princeton University, and in 1952 joined the faculty at University of Southern California, where he received a joint appointment as an associate professor in psychology and education and as the director of the University of Southern California Testing Bureau. Doctor Michael authored over 500 publications on test construction, measurement and evaluation, and personality assessment. He also co-chaired a joint committee of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) that published Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, which is the national and international standard of professional guidelines for testing and measurement in research and practice.

Professor Michael was not only a brilliant scholar and leader in his field, he was also beloved by students all over the world.

Referred to as the "Mr. Rogers" of graduate students, Professor Michael was known for his kind, patient, and understanding approach to working with students.

He was truly a gentle giant who has inspired the careers of many professionals all over the world and continues to do so today. Professor Michael served as the editor-in-chief of the Review of Educational Research, Educational Research Quarterly, and Educational and Psychological Measurement, one of the oldest journals in education and psychology.

His and Steve Isaac"s Handbook in Research and Evaluation enjoyed large popularity, with over 200,000 copies in print and his Dimensions of Self Concept (DOSC) questionnaire is used all over the world.

Professor Michael retired in December 2003 and continued to work with students up until a few days before his death in May 2004.

Achievements

• William Burton Michael has been listed as a noteworthy Psychologist, educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Teaching for Creative Endeavor: Bold New Venture

    (Hard cover (text book size/wheat colored cover) book in v...)

  • Teaching for creative endeavor;: Bold new venture

    (Creative thinking -- Learning by discovery)

  • Teaching for creative endeavor : bold new venture.

Membership

Member, board directors Neuro-Psychiatric Clinic, Los Angeles and Pasadena, since 1958. Member Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, since 1965. Advisor School of Communications, Arcadia, California, since 1981.

Fellow American Psychological Association. Member American Educational Research Association (executive committee, editor Review Education Research 1962-1965), Western Psychological Association, Northeastern Educational Research Association, National Council on Measurement in Education, California Educational Research Association (president 1965), Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi, Phi Delta Kappa.

Interests

• Avocations: Music; travel. Reading; ice cream gourmet.

Connections

Married Martha Walker Hennessey, August 30, 1947 (deceased 1959). Married Joan Yvonne Johnson, August 26, 1966.

Father:

William Whipple Michael

Mother:

Helen Augusta (Schultz) Michael

Spouse:

Martha Walker Hennessey

Spouse:

Joan Yvonne Johnson