EAM Awards
Honoring methodologists whose work has shaped the tools the field now relies on.
Recognizing excellence in methodological research
The EAM Awards serve as a cornerstone of our association, highlighting the vital role that methodologists play in the advancement of science. Each award recognizes a different way to contribute to the community: a career of methodological work, or open-source software that researchers everywhere rely on. Awards are presented during our biennial conferences.
EAM Award for Distinguished Contributions in Methodology
The Life-Time Career Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the research and development of empirical research methods over a distinguished career.
- Significant and sustained contributions to methodology
- Impact on the field of empirical research methods
- Mentorship and advancement of the discipline
EAM Award in Methodological Open-Source Software Development
Launched in 2025, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of widely used open-source research software.
- Outstanding contributions to open-source research software
- International impact
- Use documented in a key peer-reviewed publication
Selection Process & Integrity
An Awards Committee composed of the EAM Executive Committee and Advisory Board reviews nominations from across the scientific community. Candidates are evaluated on originality, breadth of application, or long-term impact on the methodological landscape.
Presented at the EAM congress
Awards are presented during the biennial EAM congresses, in front of the European methodology community. For information about nominations, contact the Executive Committee at info@eam-online.org.
Award recipients
EAM Award for Distinguished Contributions in Methodology
M. Dolores Hidalgo-Montesinos
University of Murcia, Spain
Considering her outstanding contributions to test validation and DIF analysis, and to promote equity in assessment across linguistic and cultural groups.
Juana Gómez-Benito
University of Barcelona, Spain
Considering her leading role in the field of test development and validation, differential item functioning (DIF), meta-analysis and SEM, among other topics.
Peter Schmidt
University of Giessen and University of Mainz, Germany
Considering his innovative contributions to the development, application and dissemination of SEM, the generalized latent variable modeling, and related methods.
José Muñiz
University of Oviedo, Spain
Considering his outstanding contributions to psychometrics, test development and evaluation, and his leadership in promoting high standards of assessment worldwide.
Rolf Steyer
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany
Considering his foundational contributions to latent variable theory, measurement and applied evaluation research, and his pioneering work on probabilistic causality.
EAM Award in Methodological Open-Source Software Development New
Launched in 2025 to recognise outstanding open-source software contributions to methodology.
Yves Rosseel
The founder and lead developer of the lavaan R package. His work is essential for researchers focusing on structural equation modeling (SEM).
Wolfgang Viechtbauer
The founder and lead developer of the metafor R package. He is a leading figure in the meta-analysis research community.
Check the open calls for nominations
Calls for nominations will be posted in the News section
