Classical item analysis (CIA) entails summarizing items based on two key attributes: item difficulty and item discrimination, defined as the proportion of examinees answering correctly and the difference in correctness between high and low scorers. Recent insights reveal a direct link between these measures and aspects of signal detection theory…

In clinical and forensic evaluations, clinical neuropsychologists measure performance validity using standalone and embedded measures. Given the need to capture neuropsychological functioning through a variety of cognitive tests, newer, more sensitive measures should be evaluated for their utility in comparison to already established measures.…

Given the inclusion of sensory reactivity as a diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the theorized etiological role of sensory reactivity in the development of autism, adequate sensory measures of sensory reactivity in autism, including measures extending to use in infancy, are needed. Adequate sensory measurement relies on…

Measures of academic engagement and disruptive behavior in students are strong predictors of social, academic, and lifelong career outcomes. Educators need a measurement tool that is feasible, accurate, and cost-effective in order to identify students who may be in need of additional behavioral support. Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs) offer a…

When measuring latent constructs, for example, language ability, we use statistical models to specify appropriate relationships between the latent construct and observe responses to test items. These models rely on theoretical assumptions to ensure accurate parameter estimates for valid inferences based on the test results. This dissertation…

This two-part dissertation centers on a re-examination of the role of book indexes in information retrieval research on full-text digital book collections in digital libraries. Early research focused on information retrieval and book indexes (in addition to other parts of books) in the 2000s when the Google Books corpus was first released to the…

Modern mindfulness is a catch-all term. Just exactly what it looks like within the context of education and how it is taught vastly varies. As such, program fidelity and integrity is questioned. Here a definition of mindful self-regulated learning is proposed and the Mindful Self-Regulated Learning Scale (m-SRLS) is developed. This includes item…

Within the past ten to fifteen years, there has been a trend among churches to downsize staff and eliminate the role of "Minister of Education." With these changes in staff structure, a need has emerged for assistance in evaluating adult educational programming within the church. For this project, a process was developed called the Adult…

Item Response Theory (IRT) models are a popular analytic method for self report data. We show how traditional IRT models can be vulnerable to specific kinds of asymmetric measurement error (AME) in self-report data, because the models spread the error to all estimates -- even those of items that do not contribute error. We quantify the impact of…

The purpose of this case study is to examine how cross-sector partnerships can be used to support successful and sustainable Community School efforts. The Community School model is an increasingly popular school improvement and school turnaround strategy that depends on the support of a wide range of community partners. Two research questions are…

Social cognitive deficits are core features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) or schizophrenia, amongst other conditions. These deficits limit overall functioning, arguably the most important outcome when treating the mentally ill. However, as noted by former National Institute of Mental Health director Thomas Insel, "one cannot treat…

Estimating reliability for single-item motivational measures presents challenges, particularly when constructs are anticipated to vary across time (e.g., effort, self-efficacy, emotions). We explored an innovative approach for estimating reliability of single-item motivational measures by defining reliability as consistency of interpreting the…

This paper seeks to empirically validate a sector agonistic instrument that measures the perceived critical success factors in data governance. Twelve constructs (Leadership and Management Commitment; Leadership and Management Alignment; Executive Sponsorship; Robust Data Governance Strategy; Change Management; Training and Education; Governance…

This study aimed to observe measurement invariance between community college students and university students in response to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Survey instrument. Most studies of the CoI survey instruments have recorded and validated the instruments considering undergraduate or graduate students. This study sought to validate and prove…

This dissertation investigates the utilization of authentic reading materials in ESL textbooks and the role that textbook-based tasks serve in enabling ESL classrooms to mirror the target environment. Three original studies are conducted, and two models are designed and applied in order to address the research questions, which aim to establish a…