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Are the Item Response Patterns of Two Groups of Examinees Consistent With a Difference in the Distribution of a Unidimensional Latent Variable? IRT

Author(s):
Rosenbaum, Paul R.
Publication Year:
1984
Report Number:
RR-84-27
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
25
Subject/Key Words:
Item Response Theory (IRT), Mathematical Models, Psychometrics, Responses, Statistical Analysis, Test Theory

Abstract

If one group of examinees can be described as having generally higher ability to respond correctly to the items on an exam than some other group--where ability is defined by an unidimensional item response model—then the observable distributions of item responses must satisfy certain constraints. Standard statistical methods for discrete data may be used to test the consistency of these constraints with observed data. In an example, the observed pattern of item responses is found to be inconsistent with a difference in the distribution of a unidimensional latent variable. (25pp.)

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