Extracting Information from Wrong Answers in Computerized Adaptive Testing

Abstract

A brief review of the history of polychotomous (i.e., multi-category) item response models is provided. After describing a new polychotomous item response model (Model 8), examples of the Operating Characteristic Functions obtained when Model 8 is applied to real test data are given. In general, inspection of 'goodness-of-fit' plots indicates that Model 8 provides superior data fit and higher item information functions than the well-known 3-parameter logistic (dichotomous) item response model. A simulation of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) that used the actual item responses of applicants for military enlistment shows that Model 8 would be superior to the 3-parameter logistic model in a CAT environment. In this investigation, Model 8 increased test reliability by an amount that is equivalent to a 25% increase in test length. Computerized testing, selection, classification, training, testing, item response theory psychometric models, Computerized Adaptive Testing-Armed Services Vocational Apt Battery, CAT-ASVAB, item scoring, polychotomous scoring, polytomous scoring.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA272832

Entities

People

  • J. B. Sympson

Tags

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  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Data Analysis
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Inspection
  • Management Personnel
  • Maximum Likelihood Estimation
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Personnel Selection
  • Psychological Tests
  • Recruiting
  • Security
  • Simulations
  • Students
  • Test Methods
  • Training

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  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Regression Analysis.