We analyse the PISA-reported convergence in the performance of private and public schools in Portugal. When PISA sampling weights are used, the number of students enrolled in those types of schools and specific grades/tracks of study differs significantly from official population figures. To account for those differences, we apply a…

The standard methodology for many large-scale assessments in education involves regressing latent variables on numerous contextual variables to estimate proficiency distributions. To reduce the number of contextual variables used in the regression and improve estimation, we propose and evaluate principal component analysis on the covariance matrix…

The main purpose of this study is to examine the Type I error and statistical power ratios of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) techniques based on different theories under different conditions. For this purpose, a simulation study was conducted by using Mantel-Haenszel (MH), Logistic Regression (LR), Lord's [chi-squared], and Raju's Areas…

Orlando and Thissen (2000) introduced the "S - X[superscript 2]" item-fit index for testing goodness-of-fit with dichotomous item response theory (IRT) models. This study considers and evaluates an alternative approach for computing "S - X[superscript 2]" values and other factors associated with collapsing tables of observed…

To ensure the validity of the tests is to check that all items have similar results across different groups of individuals. However, differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when the results of individuals with equal ability levels from different groups differ from each other on the same test item. Based on Item Response Theory and Classic Test…

This article explores the amount of equating error at a passing score when equating scores from exams with small samples sizes. This article focuses on equating using classical test theory methods of Tucker linear, Levine linear, frequency estimation, and chained equipercentile equating. Both simulation and real data studies were used in the…

Trend scoring is often used in large-scale assessments to monitor for rater drift when the same constructed response items are administered in multiple test administrations. In trend scoring, a set of responses from Time "A" are rescored by raters at Time "B." The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of…

We explored the possibility of publication bias in the sleep and explicit motor sequence learning literature by applying precision effect test (PET) and precision effect test with standard errors (PEESE) weighted regression analyses to the 88 effect sizes from a recent comprehensive literature review (Pan & Rickard, 2015). Basic PET analysis…

This study examined the effect of sample size ratio and model misfit on the Type I error rates and power of the Difficulty Parameter Differences procedure using Winsteps. A unidimensional 30-item test with responses from 130,000 examinees was simulated and four independent variables were manipulated: sample size ratio (20/100/250/500/1000); model…

The log-odds ratio (ln[OR]) is commonly used to quantify treatments' effects on dichotomous outcomes and then pooled across studies using inverse-variance (1/v) weights. Calculation of the ln[OR]'s variance requires four cell frequencies for two groups crossed with values for dichotomous outcomes. While primary studies report the total sample size…

Collaborative inhibition (reduced recall in collaborative vs. nominal groups) is a robust phenomenon. However, it is possible that not everyone is as susceptible to collaborative inhibition, such as those higher in working memory capacity (WMC). In the current study, we examined the relationship between WMC and collaborative inhibition.…

The present study evaluated the multiple imputation method, a procedure that is similar to the one suggested by Li and Lissitz (2004), and compared the performance of this method with that of the bootstrap method and the delta method in obtaining the standard errors for the estimates of the parameter scale transformation coefficients in item…

This study aimed to determine for continuous outcomes dependent on baseline risk, whether funnel plot asymmetry may be due to statistical artefact rather than publication bias and evaluate a novel test to resolve this. Firstly, we conducted assessment for publication bias in nine meta-analyses of postoperative analgesics (344 trials with 25 348…

This study aims to systematically evaluate the scoring errors made by psychologists in training, in the hopes of providing strong, empirically based guidelines to training programs. Survival analysis was used to determine the number of attempts required for graduate students to achieve proficiency in scoring standardized record forms from the…

Coding is a process of assigning meaning to a given piece of evidence. Evidence may be found in a variety of data types, including documents, research interviews, posts from social media, conversations from learning platforms, or any source of data that may provide insights for the questions under qualitative study. In this study, we focus on text…