Robert Boldt, retired senior research scientist at the Educational Testing Service (ETS), died July 15, 2017, after a lengthy illness at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. He was 87.
Boldt earned a bachelor’s degree in 1951 and a master’s degree in 1953 in industrial psychology from Iowa State University. From 1956 to 1959, he headed statistical analysis and computer applications units of the Army Personnel Research Office in Washington, D.C. In 1962 he earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Princeton.
He came to ETS as associate director of the statistical analysis division and retired in 1999 as a senior research scientist in the division of cognitive and instructional science. Boldt had a long-term research interest in applied psychology, particularly where measurement is involved.
He advised and directed many studies on military manpower and evaluation of educational-admissions systems. Also, he directed and investigated numerous studies on grades in law schools and graduate business schools, educational prediction, and other such educational analyses.
Boldt is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ann; four children; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.