Dr. Zohreh Sarmad

Professor of Education – Expert in Educational Psychology, Statistics, and Research Methodology

Early Life and Background

Dr. Zohreh Sarmad was born in 1934 in Tehran. She is one of the most influential Iranian scholars in the fields of education, educational psychology, statistics, and research methodology. Her academic career spans decades of teaching, research, authorship, and curriculum development at the University of Tehran.

Education

Dr. Sarmad earned her PhD in Education with a specialization in Educational Psychology and Statistics from Stanford University, one of the world’s leading institutions in the field. Her doctoral training placed her at the intersection of psychology, measurement, and quantitative research—areas that later defined her academic identity.

Academic Positions

Dr. Sarmad is a full professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, where she has taught for many years. Her teaching portfolio includes:

  • Educational Statistics
  • Measurement and Evaluation
  • Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences
  • Educational Psychology
  • Learning Theories

She is widely regarded as one of the few Iranian scholars with deep mastery of statistical methodology in education—a field she consistently emphasized as essential for scientific research.

Contributions to Educational Research and Curriculum Development

Dr. Sarmad played a major role in revising and restructuring the master’s program in Educational Psychology, a task assigned to her by the Cultural Revolution Headquarters due to her expertise in methodology and measurement.

She strongly believed that:

“The foundation of educational psychology is educational research, and a researcher must possess extensive methodological knowledge.”

Her work has significantly shaped the training of future researchers in Iran.

Publications

Books (Authored or Co‑authored)

Dr. Sarmad has authored and co‑authored several influential academic books, including:

  • Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences
    Co‑authored with Dr. Abbas Bazargan and Dr. Elaheh Hejazi
    One of the most widely used textbooks in Iranian universities.
  • Inferential Statistics
    A foundational text for students of education and behavioral sciences.

Translations

She has also translated several major academic works, including:

  • Chapters on Narrative and Book Validity
  • Educational Psychology II
  • Statistical Principles in Experimental Design (with Dr. Mehtash Esfandiari)
    A 900‑page volume for which she received a certificate of appreciation from Al‑Zahra University.

Research Articles

Dr. Sarmad has published:

  • Over 13 scientific and research articles in Persian
  • Two peer‑reviewed articles in English

Her articles cover topics such as:

  • The effect of learning on quitting drug addiction
  • Thinking styles toward women and parental involvement in spouse selection
  • Models of teacher effectiveness and instructional quality

Research Focus

Her primary areas of expertise include:

  • Educational statistics
  • Measurement and evaluation
  • Research methodology
  • Educational psychology
  • Learning theories

She is recognized for her ability to teach complex methodological concepts with clarity and precision—an ability she believed few possessed.

Honors and Recognition

Dr. Sarmad has received numerous awards throughout her career, including:

  • Certificate of Appreciation from Al‑Zahra University
    For translating a comprehensive 900‑page academic text into Persian.

Her contributions have made her one of the most respected figures in Iranian educational sciences.

Legacy

Dr. Zohreh Sarmad is widely regarded as:

  • A pioneer of educational statistics and research methodology in Iran
  • A leading educator who trained generations of researchers and teachers
  • A scholar whose textbooks remain foundational in Iranian universities
  • A role model for academic rigor, precision, and commitment to scientific inquiry

Her work continues to shape the fields of education, psychology, and research methodology in Iran.