This paper attempts to provide some initial information about the use of a variety of item response theory (IRT) models in the item selection process; its purpose is to compare the information curves derived from the selection of items characterized by several different IRT models and their associated parameter estimation programs. These…

Three measures of person-fit (the extent to which an examinee's response pattern on a multiple-choice test is consistent with his ability as estimated by total score) were computed for students taking classroom tests under 12 different instructors at a comprehensive university. Supplementary questions on each test inquired concerning students'…

Using data obtained as part of the cross-cultural IEA study on academic standards, the tendency of particular pupils to guess on multiple-choice tests was measured using an index proposed by Ziller. (Editor)

The assumption that examinees either know the answer to a test item or else guess at random is usually totally implausible. A different assumption is outlined, under which formula scoring is found to be clearly superior to number right scoring. (Author)

Research supported by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant No. 1 POL-01762-01. Portions presented at the American Psychological Association meeting (Washington, D.C., September 1967).

In the past, several latent structure models have been proposed for handling problems associated with measuring the achievement of examinees. Typically, however, these models describe a specific examinee in terms of an item domain or they describe a few items in terms of a population of examinees. In this paper, a model is proposed which allows a…

One of the recurrent themes of the psychometric literature has been the idea that the incorrect responses a person makes to test items contain information that might be useful in determining the person's position on the variable the items are intended to define. The "Partial Credit" model, a member of the family of latent trait models…

TWO METHODS OF PRESENTING PROGRAMED MATERIAL AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTRUCTION ON MENTAL RETARDATES WERE STUDIED--(1) ANSWER-CONSTRUCT (A-C) WHICH REQUIRED THAT THE ANSWER BE WRITTEN-IN AND (2) MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC) WHICH REQUIRED THAT THE CORRECT ANSWER BE CHOSEN AND MARKED. THE SUBJECTS WERE 36 STUDENTS ATTENDING A STATE INSTITUTION FOR…

A proficient item writer should possess several attributes: knowledge and understanding of the material being tested, continuous awareness of objectives, continous awareness of the instructional model, understanding of the students for whom the items are intended, skill in written communication, and skill in the techniques of item writing. The…

An historical overview is presented of criticisms arising during an early period of large-scale standardized testing in the United States: the post World War II period when the Educational Testing Service was established. Not only is a brief description of the controversy provided, but the fact that many problems of assessment are not transient…

The purpose of this paper is to acquaint the reader with the topic of test-wiseness. The first section of this paper presents a series of multiple-choice items. The reader is asked to respond to them and is encouraged to read carefully the remainder of this paper for techniques which could improve test-taking performance. The next section defines…

Admissible probability testing is a way of administering multiple choice tests in which a student states his subjective probability that each alternative answer is correct. His response is then scored by an admissible scoring system designed so that the student will perceive that is is in his interest to report his true subjective probability.…