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ERIC Number: ED660975
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 76
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Optimizing Large-Scale Educational Assessment with a "Divide-and-Conquer" Strategy: Fast and Efficient Distributed Bayesian Inference in IRT Models
Sainan Xu; Jing Lu; Jiwei Zhang; Chun Wang; Gongjun Xu
Grantee Submission
With the growing attention on large-scale educational testing and assessment, the ability to process substantial volumes of response data becomes crucial. Current estimation methods within item response theory (IRT), despite their high precision, often pose considerable computational burdens with large-scale data, leading to reduced computational speed. This study introduces a novel "divide and conquer" parallel algorithm built on the Wasserstein posterior approximation concept, aiming to enhance computational speed while maintaining accurate parameter estimation. This algorithm enables drawing parameters from segmented data subsets in parallel, followed by an amalgamation of these parameters via Wasserstein posterior approximation. Theoretical support for the algorithm is established through asymptotic optimality under certain regularity assumptions. Practical validation is demonstrated using real-world data from the Programme for International Student Assessment. Ultimately, this research proposes a transformative approach to managing educational big data, offering a scalable, efficient, and precise alternative that promises to redefine traditional practices in educational assessments. [This paper will be published in "Psychometrika."]
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Program for International Student Assessment
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305D240021; R305D200015
Author Affiliations: N/A