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Exploiting Auxiliary Information About Examinees in the Estimation of Item Parameters IRT

Author(s):
Mislevy, Robert J.
Publication Year:
1986
Report Number:
RR-86-18-ONR
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
50
Subject/Key Words:
Bayesian Statistics, Item Response Theory (IRT), Maximum Likelihood Statistics, Profile of American Youth, Statistical Analysis

Abstract

The precision of item parameter estimates can be increased by taking advantage of dependencies between the latent proficiency variable and auxiliary examinee variables such as age, courses taken, and years of schooling. Gains roughly equivalent to two to six additional item responses can be expected in typical educational and psychological applications. Empirical Bayes computational procedures are presented and illustrated with data from the Profile of American Youth survey. (49pp.)

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