Her research focus is on understanding the cognitive and affective components involved in the development of mathematical ideas in students. This research has been funded through several grants totaling over 18 million dollars (funded primarily by the National Science Foundation) where she has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator. She has (co)authored over 80 articles, chapters, and papers, including several commissioned reports, as well a book entitled The Ambiguity of Teaching to the Test.