Has Item Response Theory Increased the Validity of Achievement Test Scores?

1990 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Linn
Author(s):  
Brian Wesolowski

This chapter presents an introductory overview of concepts that underscore the general framework of item response theory. “Item response theory” is a broad umbrella term used to describe a family of mathematical measurement models that consider observed test scores to be a function of latent, unobservable constructs. Most musical constructs cannot be directly measured and are therefore unobservable. Musical constructs can therefore only be inferred based on secondary, observable behaviors. Item response theory uses observable behaviors as probabilistic distributions of responses as a logistic function of person and item parameters in order to define latent constructs. This chapter describes philosophical, theoretical, and applied perspectives of item response theory in the context of measuring musical behaviors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Schaap

The objective of this article is to present the results of an investigation into the item and test characteristics of two tests of the Potential Index Batteries (PIB) in terms of differential item functioning (DIP) and the effect thereof on test scores of different race groups. The English Vocabulary (Index 12) and Spelling Tests (Index 22) of the PIB were analysed for white, black and coloured South Africans. Item response theory (IRT) methods were used to identify items which function differentially for white, black and coloured race groups. Opsomming Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die resultate van n ondersoek na die item- en toetseienskappe van twee PIB (Potential Index Batteries) toetse in terme van itemsydigheid en die invloed wat dit op die toetstellings van rassegroepe het, weer te gee. Die Potential Index Batteries (PIB) se Engelse Woordeskat (Index 12) en Spellingtoetse (Index 22) is ten opsigte van blanke, swart en gekleurde Suid-Afrikaners ontleed. Itemresponsteorie (IRT) is gebruik om items te identifiseer wat as sydig (DIP) vir die onderskeie rassegroepe beskou kan word.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Roseline Ifeoma Ezechukwu ◽  
Basil Chinecherem, E. Oguguo ◽  
Catherine U. Ene ◽  
Clifford O. Ugorji

This study determined the psychometric properties of the Economics Achievement Test (EAT) using Item Response Theory (IRT). Two popular IRT models namely, one-parameter logistics (1PL) and two-parameter logistics (2PL) models were utilized. The researcher adopted instrumentation research design. Four research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population size is five thousand, three hundred and sixty-two (5,362) from thirty-seven (37) schools. The sample for the study was 1,180 senior secondary school students (SSS3) drawn using multi-stage sampling procedure. The 1,180 students were stratified according to gender which resulted to 885 females and 295 males. The instrument for the study consisted of 50 multiple-choice test items on the economics achievement test, developed by the researchers. Reliability and validity for each item and for the whole test were established according to the one-parameter and two-parameter logistic models. Research question one was answered using 1PLM, while research questions two and three were answered using 2PLM IRT model. Hypothesis one was tested using t-test analysis of difference between the difficulty parameters estimated using 1PLM and 2PLM while hypothesis two was tested using Chi-square. The finding of the study revealed significant difference between the item difficulties estimated using 1PLM and 2PLM. Also the observed scores of the testees on the test items fit the 1PL 2PL models.


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