Synopses & Reviews
This volume presents applications of the Rasch method to the real world measurement problems encountered by graduate students and other researchers. It includes an introductory section written by leaders and pioneers in the field in which the theory of the model is outlined succinctly. The major part of the book is devoted to research problems that have been addressed by a variety of applications of the Rasch measurement model using commonly available Rasch analysis programs. These examples will provide models and guidance for both researchers and students who are learning to apply the Rasch method. Each chapter outlines the research problem, describes the data used in the analysis, and presents the results of the analyses along with their interpretation. Data sets, command files and output files are available from a website for students and researchers who wish to work through any example in detail. The volume concludes with an exploration of some important extensions of the model to more complex research problems and data structures. Information about the common Rasch analysis programs is presented by their developers along with URLs for locations from which trial/demo/student versions of these programs can be downloaded.
Synopsis
While the primary purpose of the book is a celebration of John's contributions to the field of measurement, a second and related purpose is to provide a useful resource. We believe that the combination of the developmental history and theory of the method, the examples of its use in practice, some possible future directions, and software and data files will make this book a valuable resource for teachers and scholars of the Rasch method. This book is a tribute to Professor John P Keeves for the advocacy of the Rasch model in Australia. Happy 80th birthday John xii There are good introductory texts on Item Response Theory, Objective Measurement and the Rasch model. However, for a beginning researcher keen on utilising the potentials of the Rasch model, theoretical discussions of test theory and associated indices do not meet their pragmatic needs. Furthermore, many researchers in measurement still have little or no knowledge of the features of the Rasch model and its use in a variety of situations and disciplines. This book attempts to describe the underlying axioms of test theory, and, in particular, the concepts of objective measurement and the Rasch model, and then link theory to practice. We have been introduced to the various models of test theory during our graduate days. It was time for us to share with those keen in the field of measurement in education, psychology and the social sciences the theoretical and practical aspects of objective measurement.
Table of Contents
Preface Part 1 Measurement and the Rasch model Chapter 1 Classical Test Theory; Sivakumar Alagumalai and David Curtis Chapter 2 Objective measurement; Geoff Masters Chapter 3 The Rasch model explained; David Andrich Part 2A Applications of the Rasch Model-Tests and Competencies Chapter 4 Monitoring mathematics achievement over time; Tilahun Mengesha Afrassa Chapter 5 Manual and automatic estimates of growth and gain across year levels: How close is close? Petra Lietz and Dieter Kotte Chapter 6 Japanese language learning and the Rasch model; Kazuyo Taguchi Chapter 7 Chinese language learning and the Rasch model; Ruilan Yuan Chapter 8 Applying the Rasch model to detect biased items; Njora Hungi Chapter 9 Raters and examinations; Steven Barrett Chapter 10 Comparing classical and contemporary analyses and Rasch measurement; David Curtis Chapter 11 Combining Rasch scaling and Multi-level analysis; Murray Thompson Part 2B Applications of the Rasch Model-Attitudes Scales and Views Chapter 12 Rasch and attitude scales: Explanatory Style; Shirley Yates Chapter 13 Science teachers' views on science, technology and society issues; Debra Tedman Chapter 14 Estimating the complexity of workplace rehabilitation task using Rasch analysis; Ian Blackman Chapter 15 Creating a scale as a general measure of satisfaction for information and communications technology users; I Gusti Ngurah Darmawan Part 3 Extensions of the Rasch Model Chapter 16 Multidimensional item responses: Multimethod-multitrait perspectives; Mark Wilson and Machteld Hoskens Chapter 17 Information functions for the general dichotomous unfolding model; Luo Guanzhong and David Andrich Chapter 18 Past, present and future: an idiosyncratic view of Rasch measurement; Trevor Bond Epilogue Our Experiences and Conclusion; Sivakumar Alagumalai, David Curtis and Njora Hungi Appendix IRT Software-Descriptions and Student Versions BIGSTEPS/WINSTEPS CONQUEST RASCAL RUMM RATEFOLD/RUMMFOLD QUEST WINMIRA Subject Index