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A PRIMER OF ITEM RESPONSE THEORY

Thomas A. Warm

Open publisher page 34 citations

Abstract

This book is an introduction to Item Response Theory (IRT) (also called Item Characteristic Curve Theory, or latent trait theory). It is written for the testing practitioner with minimum training in statistics and psychometrics. It presents in simple language and with examples the basic mathematical concepts needed to understand the theory. Then, building upon those concepts, it develops the basic concepts of Item Response Theory: item parameters, item response function, test characteristic curve, item information functions, test information curve, relative efficiency curve, and score information curve. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian modal estimates of ability are described with illustrative examples. After a discussion of assumptions and available computer programs, some practical applications are presented, i.e. equating scales, tailored testing, item cultural bias, and setting pass-fail cut-offs. (Author)

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What this paper is about

This book is an introduction to Item Response Theory (IRT) (also called Item Characteristic Curve Theory, or latent trait theory). It is written for the testing practitioner with minimum training in statistics and psychometrics. It presents in simple language and with examples the basic mathematical concepts needed to understand the theory. Then, building upon those concepts, it develops the basic concepts of Item Response Theory: item parameters, item response function, test characteristic curve, item information functions, test information curve, relative efficiency curve, and score information curve. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian modal estimates of ability are described with illustrative examples. After a discussion of assumptions and available computer programs, some practical applications are presented, i.e. equating scales, tailored testing, item cultural bias, and setting pass-fail cut-offs. (Author)

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Available abstract

This book is an introduction to Item Response Theory (IRT) (also called Item Characteristic Curve Theory, or latent trait theory). It is written for the testing practitioner with minimum training in statistics and psychometrics. It presents in simple language and with examples the basic mathematical concepts needed to understand the theory. Then, building upon those concepts, it develops the basic concepts of Item Response Theory: item parameters, item response function, test characteristic curve, item information functions, test information curve, relative efficiency curve, and score information curve. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian modal estimates of ability are described with illustrative examples. After a discussion of assumptions and available computer programs, some practical applications are presented, i.e. equating scales, tailored testing, item cultural bias, and setting pass-fail cut-offs. (Author)

Key concepts: Equating, Item response theory, Test theory, Classical test theory, Computerized adaptive testing, Psychometrics, Differential item functioning, Bayesian probability

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