As an alternative to Cronbach's [alpha] for estimating scale reliability, McDonald's [omega] has attracted increased attention within the methodological community for its less stringent measurement assumptions. Notwithstanding, [omega] is still seldom used by practitioners, likely due to its unavailability in popular software packages (e.g., SPSS)…

The R software provides packages and functions that provide data analysis in classical true score, generalizability theory, item response theory, and Rasch measurement theories. A brief list of notable articles in each measurement theory and the first measurement journals is followed by a list of R psychometric software packages. Each psychometric…

Item analysis has essential roles in the learning assessment. The item analysis program is designed to measure student achievement and instructional effectiveness. This study was aimed to develop item-analysis program and verify its feasibility. This study uses a Research and Development (R & D) model. The procedure includes designing and…

Cognitive diagnostic models (CDM) have been around for more than a decade but their application is far from widespread for mainly two reasons: (1) CDMs are novel, as compared to traditional IRT models. Consequently, many researchers lack familiarity with them and their properties, and (2) Software programs doing CDMs have been expensive and not…

This paper explores the relation between problem solving learning environments (PSLEs) and assessment concepts. The general framework of evidence-centered assessment design is used to describe PSLEs in terms of assessment concepts, and to identify similarities between the process of assessment design and of PSLE design. We use a recently developed…

There are three fundamental problems in Sijtsma ("Psychometrika," 2008): (1) contrary to the name, the glb is not the greatest lower bound of reliability but rather is systematically less than omega[subscript t] (McDonald, "Test theory: A unified treatment," Erlbaum, Hillsdale, 1999), (2) we agree with Sijtsma that when considering how well a test…

Three decision consistency and accuracy (DC/DA) methods, the Livingston and Lewis (LL) method, LEE method, and the Hambleton and Han (HH) method, were evaluated. The purposes of the study were: (1) to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of these methods, especially when their assumptions were not well satisfied, (2) to investigate the "true"…

Item response theory (IRT) methodology is introduced as a tool for improving assessment instruments used with people who have disabilities. Need for this approach in rehabilitation is emphasized; differences between IRT and classical test theory are clarified. Concepts essential to understanding IRT are defined, necessary data assumptions are…

Fifteen FORTRAN 77 programs are contained in the described package. Three programs are available for each of five forgetting models involving 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10-parameter models. The programs compute parameter estimates and test parameter estimates both between and within experimental conditions. (Author/GDC)

In comparing measurement theories, it is evident that the awareness of the concept of measurement error during the time of Galileo has lead to the formulation of observed scores comprising a true score and error (classical theory), universe score and various random error components (generalizability theory), or individual latent ability and error…

Relationships between Bayesian ability estimates and the parameters of a normal population distribution are derived in the context of classical test theory. Analogies are provided for use as approximations in work with item response theory (IRT). The following issues are addressed: (1) the relationship between the distribution of the latent…

Statistical analysis tools in language testing are described, chiefly classical test theory and item response theory. Computer software for statistical analysis is briefly reviewed and divided into three tiers: commonly available; statistical packages; and specialty software. (Author/VWL)

One of the important underlying assumptions of all item response theory (IRT) models is that of local independence. This assumption requires that the response to an item on a test not be influenced by the response to any other items. This assumption is often taken for granted, with little or no scrutiny of the response process required to answer…

This document reviews several theoretical frameworks of problem-solving, provides a definition of the construct, suggests ways of measuring the construct, focuses on issues for assessment, and provides specifications for the computer-based assessment of problem solving. As defined in the model of the Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards,…

This manual is designed to assist faculty members at the University of North Dakota (UND) in the construction, scoring, and analysis of their classroom tests. A computer program is described which will assist staff in test scoring and analysis. The program was developed by the author in the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation of the…