Many statistical tests are designed to test the different assumptions of the Rasch model, but only few are directed at detecting multidimensionality. The Martin-Lof test is an attractive approach, the disadvantage being that its null distribution deviates strongly from the asymptotic chi-square distribution for most realistic sample sizes. A Monte…

Monte Carlo simulation procedures were used to study the psychometric characteristics of two two-stage adaptive tests and a conventional "peaked" ability test. Results showed that scores yielded by both two-stage tests better reflected the normal distribution of underlying ability. Ability estimates yielded by one of the two stage tests…

Raw scores on most standardized educational and psychological assessment instruments acquire meaning only when referenced to a set of norms. Test publishers should clearly describe their norming procedures, including the target population and the sample on which the norms are based. The primary purpose of this report is to illustrate some of the…

The method of using person vectors in regression analysis to test repeated measures hypotheses or questions is discussed. These hypotheses involve designs with pre and post scores with one group and with multiple groups. Based on these analyses with person vectors, there are two major focuses of the paper: a proposed solution to the problem of…

Some stochastic approximation procedures are considered in relation to the problem of choosing a sequence of test questions to accurately estimate a given examinee's standing on a psychological dimension. Illustrations are given evaluating certain procedures in a specific context. (Author/CK)

The effects of providing immediate knowledge of results (KR) and adaptive testing on test anxiety and test-taking motivation were investigated. Also studied was the accuracy of student perceptions of the difficulty of adaptive and conventional tests administered with or without immediate knowledge of results. Testees were 350 college students…

Issues regarding confidence and tolerance intervals are discussed within the context of educational measurement. Conceptual distinctions are drawn between these two types of intervals; and examples, under various error and true score models, are used to compare such intervals. It is shown that there tend to be only small differences in tolerance…

Too often researchers rely upon the classical normal theory parametric tests to analyze non-normal data, even though the tests may not be robust to violations of that assumption. Fligner's class of two-sample tests for scale is an important development because the test is distribution-free and has desirable properties. This paper outlines the…

Configural frequency analysis (CFA), a new method for identifying types, is illustrated numerically. Relations to latent class analysis and to factor analysis are discussed. It is suggested to use CFA as a type-defining method instead of factor analysis if the variables are linked not only by first but also by higher-order associations. (RC)

Estimates for the variances of empirically determined scoring weights are given. It is also shown that test item writers should write distractors that discriminate on the criterion variable when this type of scoring is used. (Author)

This study attempted to provide a way to identify disadvantaged students at the junior college and to determine what data could be used as a basis for developing a curriculum to help them. Two measures of cognition, School and College Ability Test (SCAT) and Florida 12th Grade Battery, and three measures of the affective domain, Social Reaction…

Researchers often use the analysis of variance to test hypotheses about the means, followed by a multiple comparison technique when the F-test is significant. The technique is this study was developed by Newman (1939) and Keuls (1952). A flaw in the rationale underlying this technique was evaluated to determine whether the flaw is sufficiently…

A basic description of the Rasch model and a brief review of the work previously done on the model is related. Simulated data was used to test goodness of fit to the Rasch model. It was found that data with near perfect fit to the Guttman model provides perfect fit to the Rasch model, though a perfect Guttman scale collapses. Random data also…

The purposes of this paper are to: (1) describe some of the serious shortcomings in the current use of tests of statistical significance, (2) discuss how misuses are perpetuated in some widely used references, and (3) present an alternative significance testing model that overcomes some, but not all, of the shortcomings of the currently used…