To satisfy the security requirements of computerized adaptive tests (CATs), efforts have been made to control the exposure rates of optimal items directly by incorporating statistical methods into the item selection procedure. Since differences are likely to occur between the exposure control parameter derivation stage and the operational CAT…

In computerized adaptive testing, updating item parameter estimates using adaptive testing data is often called online calibration. This study investigated how to evaluate whether the adaptive testing data used for online calibration sufficiently fit the item response model used. Three approaches were investigated, based on a Lagrange multiplier…

Computers are revolutionizing almost every aspect of society and testing is no exception. Delivering tests on a computer often improves exam security, testing efficiency, and scoring, and it often allows for measurement of knowledge, skills, and abilities that cannot be measured using traditional assessment formats. One of the most widely cited…

Item pools supporting computer-based tests are not always completely calibrated. Occasionally, only a small subset of the items in the pool may have actual calibrations, while the remainder of the items may only have classical item statistics, (e.g., "p"-values, point-biserial correlation coefficients, or biserial correlation…

Information based item selection methods in computerized adaptive tests (CATs) tend to choose the item that provides maximum information at an examinee's estimated trait level. As a result, these methods can yield extremely skewed item exposure distributions in which items with high "a" values may be overexposed, while those with low…

The purpose of this study was to compare a proposed revised a-stratified, or alpha-stratified, USTR method of test item selection with the original alpha-stratified multistage computerized adaptive testing approach (STR) and the use of maximum Fisher information (FSH) with respect to test efficiency and item pool usage using simulated computerized…

Due to the increased popularity of computerized adaptive testing (CAT), many admissions tests, as well as certification and licensure examinations, have been transformed from their paper-and-pencil versions to computerized adaptive versions. A major difference between paper-and-pencil tests and CAT, from an examinees point of view, is that in many…

This paper presents a derivation of an average between-test overlap index as a function of the item exposure index, for fixed-length computerized adaptive tests (CAT). This relationship is used to investigate the simultaneous control of item exposure at both the item and test levels. Implications for practice as well as future research are also…

Because different types of computerized tests exist and continue to emerge, the term "computer-based testing" does not encompass all of the various models that may exist. As a result, test delivery model (TDM) is used to describe the variety of methods that exist in delivering tests to examinees. The criterion that is used to distinguish…

Examines research showing the equivalence of paper-and-pencil-administered tests and computer-administered tests, especially when they are exactly the same test. Four categories of research are examined: previous reviews of research, standards and guidelines for computerized testing, individual research studies, and studies about computer testing…

Examined the effectiveness of the Sympson-Hetter technique and rotated content balancing relative to no exposure control and no content rotation conditions in a computerized adaptive testing system based on the partial credit model. Simulation results show the Sympson-Hetter technique can be used with minimal impact on measurement precision,…

Investigated the acceptance of computerized assessment, particularly compared to conventional paper-and-pencil techniques, in seriously impaired psychiatric inpatients. Describes the development of a self-rating questionnaire (OPQ, Operation and Preference Questionnaire) and reports results that showed computerized assessment was convincingly…

Used a simulation to investigate the applicability to computerized adaptive test data of a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis method. Results show the performance of this empirical Bayes enhancement of the Mantel Haenszel DIF analysis method to be quite promising. (SLD)

Presents overview of Item Response Theory (IRT). Explores substantial advantages of IRT in both ability and attitude measurements. Describes and illustrates basic IRT models. Discusses instrument construction and computerized testing. (Author/BHK)

Two methods for estimating the reliability of a computerized adaptive test (CAT) without using item response theory are presented. The data consist of CAT and paper-and-pencil scores from identical or equivalent samples, and scores for all examinees on one or more covariates, using the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (TJH)