The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a false assumption regarding the motivation of examinees on test construction. Simulated data were generated using two models of item responses (the three-parameter logistic item response model alone and in combination with Wise's examinee persistence model) and were calibrated using a…

A framework is described for exploiting auxiliary information about test items within item response theory models to enhance parameter estimates. The method also provides diagnostic information about items' operating characteristics. An empirical Bayesian estimation of Rasch item difficulty is used to illustrate the principles involved. (TJH)