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Optimal Design of Item Pools for Computerized Adaptive Tests

Author(s):
Stocking, Martha L.; Swanson, Len
Publication Year:
1996
Report Number:
RR-96-34
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
27
Subject/Key Words:
Adaptive Testing, Computer Assisted Testing, Item Pools, Test Construction, Test Design, Test Items

Abstract

Methods of optimal test assembly have served in the past as the foundation for the development of methods of assembling adaptive tests on-the-fly. A particular model and heuristic that facilitate the assembly of adaptive tests of the same complex structure as linear tests have already been developed. Similar methods can be used in the assembly of item pools designed to support adaptive tests. In the continuous testing environment of adaptive tests, optimal item pool design must simultaneously take into account the competing goals of reducing item exposure to enhance item security and maximizing this exposure to make the greatest possible use of every item. An extension of previous methods of optimal design to the issues of item pool design in the context of adaptive testing is developed in this paper, with examples

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