The purpose of this article is to discuss curriculum-based measurement (CBM) as it is currently utilized in research and practice and to propose a new approach for developing measures to monitor the academic progress of students longitudinally. To accomplish this, we first describe CBM and provide several exemplars of CBM in reading and…

This comprehensive "Handbook" focuses on the most used polytomous item response theory (IRT) models. These models help us understand the interaction between examinees and test questions where the questions have various response categories. The book reviews all of the major models and includes discussions about how and where the models…

Meehl's taxometric method was developed to distinguish categorical and continuous constructs. However, taxometric output can be difficult to interpret because expected results for realistic data conditions and differing procedural implementations have not been derived analytically or studied through rigorous simulations. By applying bootstrap…

This paper describes and illustrates a method for equating examinations with multiple facets (i.e., items, examinees, judges, tasks, and rating scales). The data are from the practical section of two histotechnology certification examinations. The first practical examination involved 210 examinees, 14 judges, 15 slides, 3 tasks, and 2 rating…

To explore the appropriateness of the Rasch model for the vertical equating of a multi-level, multi-form achievement test series, both the Rasch model and the traditional Thurstone procedures were applied to the Listening Comprehension subtest scores of the Stanford Achievement Test. Two adjacent levels of these tests were administered in 1981 to…

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the relationship between violations of the assumption of unidimensionality, as assessed by the factor analysis of item parcel data, and the quality of item response theory (IRT) true-score equating, as measured by score scale stability. The verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which item parameters estimated on pretest data from the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) can be used for equating purposes in a situation where intact final form SAT testing data have normally been used. Items appearing in two final SAT-verbal forms were calibrated…

The effectiveness of 19 methods of smoothing was investigated as those methods apply to the equipercentile method of test equating. Seven methods involved smoothing the score distribution before the tests were equated (presmoothing). Seven involved smoothing the resultant points after the equating (postsmoothing). Five methods involved combining…

This study investigated the development and application of two widely used methods of vertical equating: Rasch and Equipercentile. The assumptions underlying both techniques are discussed. Procedures for utilization of the Rasch method are illustrated. The study was conducted to determine whether, based upon Rasch vertical equating, a local school…

This study considers the use of repeaters when test equating. The subjects consist of five groups of applicants to a professional certification program. Each group comprises first time examinees and repeaters. The procedures include a common item linear equating with nonrandom groups, use of equating chains, and the use of total examinee group…

The purpose of this study was to examine the homogeneity in difficulty of item domains and the effectiveness of Rasch pre-equating procedures for adjusting test scores for differences in the difficulty of tests constructed by sampling from item domains. The data used were taken from a field test and calibration of 810 tenth-grade items in…

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using item response theory (IRT) methods to equate different forms of three College Board Achievement Tests (Biology, American History and Social Studies, and Mathematics Level II) and one Graduate Record Examinations Achievement Test (Advanced Biology), rather than conventional or…

Two methods of 'equating' tests using item response theory (IRT) are compared, one using true scores, the other using the estimated distribution of observed scores. On the data studied, they yield almost indistinguishable results. This is a reassuring result for users of IRT equating methods. (Author)

Equating studies using item response theory (IRT) are reviewed. The most well-known papers, as well as a sampling of lesser-known studies, are included. Accompanying tables list the papers and classify them according to the test used, models used, test length and type, sample size and type, method of assessment, equating design, and kinds of…

The purpose of this study was twofold: to investigate to what extent characteristics of anchor tests may affect precision of item calibration, and to estimate to what extent precision of item calibration may be affected by removal of persons whose response patterns deviate from those normally expected from the Rasch one-parameter logistic model.…