James LeBreton (Tennessee, PhD) is a Professor of Psychology at Rice University. James’ methodological research addresses data science issues and topics including: regression analysis, machine learning & predictive analytics, multilevel measurement & analysis, confirmatory analysis, and meta-analysis. His work has also contributed to basic issues related to psychometrics (e.g., test development & validation, test bias, test fairness, reliability, measurement invariance/differential functioning across groups). James is a former editor of Organizational Research Methods (2014-2018) and co-editor of the APA Handbook of Multilevel Theory, Measurement, and Analysis (2019).  In 2023, James received the Distinguished Career Award from the Research Methods Division of the Academy of Management for his contributions to measurement and quantitative methods. 

James’ substantive research focuses on the Conditional Reasoning Theory of Personality. This theory is moored to the concept of motivated reasoning. Specifically, individuals with strong personality motives (e.g., aggression; achievement; power) develop cognitive biases (e.g., hostile attribution bias; efficacy of persistence bias; social hierarchy bias) that facilitate the pursuit of (i.e., help justify) behaviors satisfying the underlying motive (e.g., harming others; working evenings and weekends; pursuing positions of leadership). He has examined the relationships between personality motives and behavior in organizations (e.g., faking on selection tests, job performance, counterproductive behaviors, leadership, team processes, & job attitudes).

Research Interest Group(s)

Psychometrics & Quantitative Psychology; Industrial-Organizational Psychology