The Effect of Item Preknowledge on Response Time: Analysis of an Experimental Dataset Using the Multiple-Group Lognormal Response Time Model with a Gating Mechanism

Response time information has recently attracted a significant amount of attention in the literature as it may provide meaningful information about item preknowledge. The methods that propose the use of response time information in identifying examinees with potential item preknowledge make an implicit assumption that the examinees with item preknowledge differ in their response time patterns compared to other examinees without item preknowledge. In this study, we analyzed the differences in response time of examinees with potential item preknowledge and examinees without item preknowledge based on a real experimental dataset provided by Toton and Maynes (2019). A multiple-group extension of van der Linden’s Lognormal Response Model with a gating mechanism was used to capture the differences in latent speed for control and experimental groups on disclosed and undisclosed items. The model used in the study and estimated parameters from this experimental dataset may inform future simulation studies in this area of research to simulate realistic datasets with item preknowledge behavior.