James “Mike” Royer, Ph.D.

Early Research – Diagnosing Learning Problems

Dr. Royer is the president of Educational Help, Inc., the parent company of Reading Success Lab. He oversees general operations and also manages customer support. A focal point of his university based research was why some students had academic learning difficulties. Initially this focus was on how to identify different forms of learning difficulties. This research resulted in the software that forms the diagnostic portion of Reading Success Lab.

Next – Research Fixing Reading Problems

A focal point of his university based research was why some students had academic learning difficulties. Initially this focus was on how to identify different forms of learning difficulties. Having developed successful diagnostic software, Royer turned to developing procedures for remediating learning difficulties. In order to accomplish this goal Royer opened a clinic at the University of Massachusetts that he called the Laboratory for the Assessment and Training of Academic Skills (LATAS)

Research results from the LATAS Lab

Over a 12 year period he worked with students and adults that had been formally diagnosed by outside clinicians as having learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyscalculia, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, spectrum disorders (e.g., Asperger Syndrome, autism), and a variety of behavioral disorders. This research resulted in the intervention procedures contained in the Reading Success Lab software. For a complete listing of Royer’s research activities see his Curriculum VITAE.

Career Highlights

Military Service:

  • United States Air Force: 1960-1963

Education:

  • B.A. Psychology, Chico State University, Chico California 1967
  • M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana IL, 1969
  • Ph.D. Educational Psychology University of Illinois, 1970

Academic Positions:

  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Research Professor, 1970-2012

Visiting Academic Positions:

  • Research Professor, Center for the Study of Reading, University of Illinois, 1977-1978
  • Distinguished Visiting Professor, Arizona State University, 1981-1982
  • Visiting Research Professor, University of New England, Armidale Australia, 1998-1999
  • Distinguished World Bank Visiting Professor, South China University, Guangzhou China, 1983-1984

Publications:

  • Four books, either authored or edited
  • 90 refereed journal articles or book chapters

Academic Awards:

  • Psychology Department Distinguished Teaching Award, 1974-1975
  • Fellow, Division of Educational Psychology and Division of Experimental Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1985
  • Award for Outstanding Academic Outreach, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1999
  • University of Massachusetts Award for Outstanding Academic Outreach, 2001
  • President, Division of Educational Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2003-2004
  • Editor Research Journal: Contemporary Educational Psychology, 2000-2005
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Illinois Champaign/ Urbana, 2008

Research Funding:

  • Air Force Human Resources Laboratory
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Holyoke Massachusetts Public School System
  • United States Agency for International Development
  • Naval Personnel Research and Development Center
  • Bay State Medical Center, West Springfield Massachusetts
  • National Science Foundation
  • College Board
  • Swiss Development Corporation

Early Research – Diagnosing Learning Problems

Dr. Royer is the president of Educational Help, Inc., the parent company of Reading Success Lab. He oversees general operations and also manages customer support. A focal point of his university based research was why some students had academic learning difficulties. Initially this focus was on how to identify different forms of learning difficulties. This research resulted in the software that forms the diagnostic portion of Reading Success Lab.

Next – Research Fixing Reading Problems

A focal point of his university based research was why some students had academic learning difficulties. Initially this focus was on how to identify different forms of learning difficulties. Having developed successful diagnostic software, Royer turned to developing procedures for remediating learning difficulties. In order to accomplish this goal Royer opened a clinic at the University of Massachusetts that he called the Laboratory for the Assessment and Training of Academic Skills (LATAS)

Research results from the LATAS Lab

Over a 12 year period he worked with students and adults that had been formally diagnosed by outside clinicians as having learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyscalculia, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, spectrum disorders (e.g., Asperger Syndrome, autism), and a variety of behavioral disorders. This research resulted in the intervention procedures contained in the Reading Success Lab software. For a complete listing of Royer’s research activities see his Curriculum VITAE.

Career Highlights

Military Service:

  • United States Air Force: 1960-1963

Education:

  • B.A. Psychology, Chico State University, Chico California 1967
  • M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana IL, 1969
  • Ph.D. Educational Psychology University of Illinois, 1970

Academic Positions:

  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Research Professor, 1970-2012

Visiting Academic Positions:

  • Research Professor, Center for the Study of Reading, University of Illinois, 1977-1978
  • Distinguished Visiting Professor, Arizona State University, 1981-1982
  • Visiting Research Professor, University of New England, Armidale Australia, 1998-1999
  • Distinguished World Bank Visiting Professor, South China University, Guangzhou China, 1983-1984

Publications:

  • Four books, either authored or edited
  • 90 refereed journal articles or book chapters

Academic Awards:

  • Psychology Department Distinguished Teaching Award, 1974-1975
  • Fellow, Division of Educational Psychology and Division of Experimental Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1985
  • Award for Outstanding Academic Outreach, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1999
  • University of Massachusetts Award for Outstanding Academic Outreach, 2001
  • President, Division of Educational Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2003-2004
  • Editor Research Journal: Contemporary Educational Psychology, 2000-2005
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Illinois Champaign/ Urbana, 2008

Research Funding:

  • Air Force Human Resources Laboratory
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Holyoke Massachusetts Public School System
  • United States Agency for International Development
  • Naval Personnel Research and Development Center
  • Bay State Medical Center, West Springfield Massachusetts
  • National Science Foundation
  • College Board
  • Swiss Development Corporation

Mike Royer