Dichotomous item response theory (IRT) models can be viewed as families of stochastically ordered distributions of responses to test items. This paper explores several properties of such distributions, especially those related to transfer to other distributions. Results are formulated as a series of theorems and corollaries that apply to…

A constrained quadratic spline is proposed as an estimator of the hazard function of a random variable. A maximum penalized likelihood procedure is used to fit the estimator to a sample of psychological response times. (Author/LMO)

The use of Bayesian theory to connect ordinal data and ordered scale points with the theory of order statistics is presented. Exact and approximate multivariate and marginal densities for the scale points are derived. (Author/JKS)

Assuming vectors of item responses depend on ability through a fully specified item response model, this paper presents maximum likelihood equations for estimating the population parameters without estimating an ability parameter for each subject. Asymptotic standard errors, tests of fit, computing approximations, and details of four special cases…