Principal Investigator, The Methodology Center
Research Assistant Professor, College of Health and Human Development
The Methodology Center
The Pennsylvania State University
400 Calder Square II
State College, PA 16801
814-863-9724
Education
Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 2005 (Quantitative Psychology)
M.A., James Madison University, 2001 (Psychological Sciences)
B.S., James Madison University, 1999 (Psychology)
Current Projects and Collaborators
I am working on a project with Debashis Ghosh on more sophisticated approaches to estimating propensity scores in the mediation context. I have also been collaborating with Stephanie Lanza on a project to extend causal inference methods to latent variable outcomes. Finally, I am collaborating with John Dziak, Runze Li, and Stephanie Lanza on a project on information criteria and model fit.
Research Interests
I am interested in advancing and applying statistical methods to address complex research questions in the behavioral, health, and social sciences. My background is in structural equation modeling, measurement theory, and mixed effect models, particularly in assessing model fit.
More recently, I have focused on methods for causal inference including propensity scores, and mediation.
Grants and Awards
Marginal Causal Models for Observational Studies in Obesity Research
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: R21DK082858
7/1/09 - present; Role: Co-Investigator (7/30/09-6/30/11 PI: Joseph Schafer); PI (7/1/11-6/30/2012)
Center for Prevention and Treatment Methodology (The Methodology Center)
National Institute on Drug Abuse: P50DA010075
1/1/08 - present; Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Linda Collins)
HealthWise Dissemination: Translation to Multiple Schools
National Institute on Drug Abuse: R01 DA029084
12/1/2010-present; Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Linda Caldwell)
NIH Loan Repayment Program
(2008-present)
Mexican Children of Immigrants Program
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: 1P01HD62498-01A1
4/1/11-present; Role- Co-Investigator (PI: Nancy Landale)
Geisinger Rural Aging Study
U.S. Department of Agriculture: 1950-51530-010-OOD
7/3/2009-present; Role: Co-Investigator (Subcontract PI: Terryl Hartman)
Antioxidant Status, Diet, and Early Pregnancy
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: 1R01HD49762-01A2
12/1/10-present; Role: Co-Investigator (Subcontract PI: Terryl Hartman)
Selected Recent Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Lanza, S. T., Coffman, D. L., & Xu, S. (in press). Causal inference in latent class analysis. Structural Equation Modeling.
Crowley, D. M., Coffman, D. L., Feinberg, & Greenberg, M. (2013). Evaluating the impact of implementation factors on family-based prevention programming: Methods for strengthening causal inference. Prevention Science. Advance online publication. doi: 1001007/s11121-012-0352-8 PMC Journal-In Process
Hsaio, P.-Y., Mitchell, D. C., Coffman, D. L., Allman, R. M., Locher, J. L., Sawyer, P., Jensen, G. L., & Hartman, T. J. (2013). Dietary patterns and diet quality among diverse older adults: The University of Alabama at Birmingham study of aging. Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging, 17(2), 19-25. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s12603-012-0082-4 PMCID: PMC3574872
Lindgren, J., Dorgan, J. F., Savage-Williams, J., Coffman, D. L., & Hartman, T. J. (2013). Diet across the lifespan and the association with breast density in adulthood. International Journal of Breast Cancer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1155/2013/808317 PMCID: PMC3574651
Solmeyer, A. R., Feinberg, M. E., Coffman, D. L., & Jones, D. E. (2013). The effects of the Family Foundations intervention on coparenting and child adjustment: A mediation analysis. Prevention Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11121-013-0366-x NIHMSID: NIHMS445501
Coffman, D. L., Caldwell, L. L., & Smith, E. A. (2012). Introducing the at-risk average causal effect with application to HealthWise South Africa. Prevention Science. Advance online publication. doi:10.1007/s11121-011-0271-0 PMCID: PMC3405190
Coffman, D. L., & Kugler, K. C. (2012). Causal mediation of a human immunodeficiency virus preventive intervention. Nursing Research, 61(3), 224-230. PMCID: PMC3377683
Coffman, D. L., & Zhong, W. (2012). Assessing mediation using marginal structural models in the presence of confounding and moderation. Psychological Methods, 17,(4), 342-664. PMCID: PMC3553264 doi: 10.1037/a0029311
Hsaio, P.-Y., Mitchell, D. C., Coffman, D. L., Wood, G. C., Hartman, T. J., Still, C., & Jensen, G. L. (2012). Dietary patterns and relationship to obesity-related health outcomes and mortality in adults 75 years of age or greater. Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s12603-013-0014-y PMC Journal-In process
Coffman, D. L. (2011). Estimating causal effects in mediation analysis using propensity scores. Structural Equation Modeling, 18(3), 357-369. PMCID: PMC3212948
Sharp, E., Coffman, D. L., Caldwell, L., Smith, E. A., Wegner, L., Vergnani, T., & Mathews, C. (2011). Predicting substance use behavior among South African adolescents: The role of leisure experiences across time. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 35(4), 343-351. PMCID: PMC3375719
Hsiao, P.-Y., Jensen, G. L., Hartmann, T. J., Mitchell, D. C., Nickols-Richardson, S. M., & Coffman, D. L. (2011). Food intake patterns and body mass index in older adults: A review of the epidemiological evidence. Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics, 30(3), 204-224.
Coffman, D. L., Smith, E. A., Flisher, A. J., & Caldwell, L. L. (2011). Effects of HealthWise South Africa on condom use self-efficacy. Prevention Science, 12(2), 162-172. PMCID: PMC3102775
Maydeu-Olivares, A., Coffman, D. L., Garcia-Forero, C., & Gallardo-Pujol, D. (2010). Hypothesis testing for coefficient alpha: An SEM approach. Behavior Research Methods, 42(2), 618-625. PMCID: PMC3027072
Caldwell, L. L., Bradley, S., & Coffman, D. (2009). A person-centered approach to individualizing a school-based universal preventive intervention. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 35(4), 214-219. PMCID: PMC2829713
Coffman, D. L., & Belue, R. (2009). Disparities in sense of community: True race differences or differential item functioning? Journal of Community Psychology, 37(5), 547-558. PMCID: PMC2772185
Maydeu-Olivares, A., Kramp, U., Garcia-Forero, C., Gallardo-Pujol, D., & Coffman, D. (2009). The effect of varying the number of response alternatives in rating scales: Experimental evidence from intra-individual effects. Behavior Research Methods, 41(2), 295-308.
Coffman, D. L. (2008). Model misspecification in covariance structure models: Some implications for power and Type I error. Methodology, 4(4), 159-167.
Coffman, D. L., Maydeu-Olivares, A., & Arnau, J. (2008). Asymptotically distribution-free interval estimation for an intraclass correlation coefficient with applications to longitudinal data. Methodology, 4(1), 4-9.
Coffman, D. L., Patrick, M. E., Palen, L., Rhoades, B. L., & Ventura, A. K. (2007). Why do high school seniors drink? Implications for a targeted approach to intervention. Prevention Science, 8, 241-248.
Maydeu-Olivares, A., Coffman, D. L., & Hartmann, W. M. (2007). Asymptotically distribution-free interval estimation for coefficient alpha. Psychological Methods, 12(2), 157-176.
Maydeu-Olivares, A., & Coffman, D. L. (2006). Random intercept item factor analysis. Psychological Methods, 11(4), 344-362.
Coffman, D. L., & Millsap, R. E. (2006). Evaluating latent growth curve models using individual fit statistics. Structural Equation Modeling, 13(1), 1-27.
Book Chapters
Graham, J. W., & Coffman, D. L. (2012). Structural equation modeling with missing data. In R. Hoyle (Ed.), Handbook of structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford Press.
Presentations
Zhu, Y., Ghosh, D., & Coffman, D. L. (2013, Mar.). Improving Mediation Analysis Based on Propensity Scores. Presented at the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society, Orlando, FL.
Coffman, D. L., MacKinnon, D. P., Zhu, Y., & Ghosh, D. (2013, Jan.). Comparison of three approaches to causal mediation analysis. Presented at the Causal Mediation Analysis Symposium, Ghent, Belgium.
Coffman, D. L. (2012, October). Methodology workshop: Propensity score methods for estimating causality in the absence of random assignment: Applications for child care policy research. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Child Care Policy Research Consortium, Bethesda, MD.
Hsiao, P.-Y., Mitchell, D. C., Wood, G. C., Coffman, D. L., Wheeler, D., Hartman, T. J., Still, C., Jensen, G. L. (2012, Oct.). Association between dietary patterns in older adults and obesity-related health outcomes. Presented at the Food & Nutrition Expo, Philadelphia, PA.
Wheeler, D., Jensen, G. L., Mitchell, D. C., Hsiao, P.-Y., Bailey, R., Smiciklas-Wright, H., Coffman, D. L., Still, C., Hartman, T. J. (2012, Oct.). Poor diet quality is associated with being underweight among older adults. Presented at the Food & Nutrition Expo, Philadelphia, PA.
Zhu, Y., Ghosh, D., & Coffman, D. (2012, August). Mediation analysis based on propensity scores. Presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings, San Diego, CA.
Coffman, D. L. (2012, June). Propensity score methods for causal inference. Two-day workshop presented for Methods Work, Chicago, IL; and for the Penn State Methodology Center Summer Institute on Innovative Methods.
Butera, N., Lanza, S. T., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, June). Effect of early sexual debut on adolescent delinquency latent class membership. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., MacKinnon, D. P., Zhu, Y., & Ghosh, D. (2012, June). Comparison of three approaches to causal mediation analysis. In Thoemmes, F. (Chair), Causal inference in mediation models. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., Savage-Williams, J., Xu, S., Lanza, S. T., & Birch, L. (2012, June). Do mothers’ eating behaviors cause daughters’ dieting? Drawing causal inferences from the Girls’ Needs study. In Stuart, E. A. (Chair), The use of propensity score for assessing mediation and moderation. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Crowley, D. M., Jones, D., Greenberg, M., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, June). Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of real-world prevention efforts: Approaches for estimating the value of evidence-based programming. In Crowley, D. M. (Chair), Economic evaluation within prevention science: New frontiers. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Lippold, M., Coffman, D. L., & Greenberg, M. (2012, June). Parental knowledge and youth risky behavior: Using propensity models to estimate causality. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Stuart, E. A., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, June). Propensity Score Methods for Complex Longitudinal Settings. Paper presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Xu, S., Coffman, D. L., Caldwell, L. L., & Smith, E. A. (2012, June). HealthWise South Africa: A comparison of new causal inference approaches for assessing mediation in prevention science. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Xu, S., Coffman, D. L., Smith, E. , & Caldwell, L. L. (2012, June). A comparison of new causal inference approaches for assessing mediation in the HealthWise South Africa study. In Thoemmes, F. (Chair), Causal inference in mediation models. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Zhu, Y., Coffman, D. L., MacKinnon, D. P., & Ghosh, D. (2012, May). Comparison of three approaches to causal mediation analysis. Poster presented at the 2012 Atlantic Causal Inference Conference, Baltimore, MD.
Xu, S., Blozis, S. A., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, May). Modeling longitudinal continuous variables with many zeros. Presented at the Modern Modeling Methods Conference, Storrs, CT.
Coffman, D. L. (2012, March) Assessing mediation using propensity scores. Guest lecture for graduate course on Mediation Analysis. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Compton, S. N., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, February). Novel approaches to causal mediation in the context of clinical trials. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Methodology Themed conference, Tampa, FL.
Lippold, M., Coffman, D. L., & Greenberg, M. (2012, February). Investigating the causal relationship between parental knowledge and youth risky behavior. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Methodology Themed conference, Tampa, FL.
Coffman, D. L., Powers, C. J., & Bierman, K. (2012, February). Causal mediation of inattention and aggression on substance use outcomes in the Fast Track data. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Methodology Themed conference, Tampa, FL.
Coffman, D. L. (2011, December). Assessing causal mediation of the RRR intervention on sexual risk behavior among recently released female prisoners. Invited talk presented at Columbia University, New York, NY.
Coffman, D. L. (2011, November). Do mothers’ eating behaviors cause daughters’ dieting? Drawing causal inferences from the Girls’ Needs study. Invited talk presented at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State, University Park, PA.
Coffman, D. L. (2011, November). Propensity score methods. Invited preconference workshop presented at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., Melde, C., & Esbensen, F.-A. (2011, November). Assessing the mediating role of anticipated guilt on the relationship between gang membership and substance use in the presence of confounding and moderation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., & Almirall, D. (2011, June). Causal mediation in the presence of post-treatment confounders, baseline moderators, and non-randomized treatments. Poster presented at the Society for Prevention Research Annual Meetings, Washington, DC.
Dziak, J. J., Coffman, D. L., Lanza, S. T., & Li, R. (2011, June). Sensitivity and specificity of information criteria for model selection in prevention and psychology datasets. Poster presented at the Society for Prevention Research Annual Meetings, Washington, DC.
Powers, C. J., Coffman, D. L., & Bierman, K. (2011, June). Aggressive disruptive students in restricted educational placements: Moderated influence of placement history on adolescent outcomes. Poster presented at the Society for Prevention Research Annual Meetings, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., & Almirall, D. (2011, May). Causal mediation in the presence of post-treatment confounders, baseline moderators, and non-randomized treatments. Paper presented at the Modern Modeling Methods Conference, Storrs, CT.
Coffman, D. L., Zhong, W., & Almirall, D. (2011, May). Assessing mediation using marginal structural models in the presence of confounding and moderation. Poster presented at the 2011 Atlantic Causal Inference Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Moore, J. E., Coffman, D. L., & Lanza, S. T. (2011, April). Drawing causal inferences using propensity scores. Paper presented at the 2011 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Canada.
Powers, C. J., Coffman, D. L., & Bierman, K. (2011, April). The impact of patterns of self contained placement on mental health outcomes: Application of structural nested mean models with time-varying moderators. Paper presented at the 2011 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Canda.
Software
Schoemann, A. M., Preacher, K. J., & Coffman, D. L. (2010, April). Plotting power curves for RMSEA. [Software]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas. Available at http://www.quantpsy.org.
Preacher, K. L., & Coffman, D. L. (2006). Computing power and minimum sample size for RMSEA. [Software]. Laurence, KS: University of Kansas. Available at http://www.quantpsy.org.