Since its release in 1976, LOGIST has been the most widely used computer program for estimating the parameters of the three-parameter logistic item response model developed by A. Birnbaum. An alternative program, BILOG, developed by R. J. Mislevy and R. D. Bock (1983), has recently become available. This paper compares the approaches taken by the…

A mastery test is frequently described as follows: an examinee responds to n dichotomously scored test items. Depending upon the examinee's observed (number correct) score, a mastery decision is made and the examinee is advanced to the next level of instruction. Otherwise, a nonmastery decision is made and the examinee is given remedial work. This…

Bayesian estimation procedures based on a hierarchical model for estimating parameters in the Rasch model are described. It is shown that the Bayesian procedures result in estimates with superior statistical characteristics. (Author/JKS)

A maximum likelihood approach to correlational outlier identification is introduced and compared to the Mahalanobis D squared and Comrey D statistics through Monte Carlo simulation. Identification performance depends on the nature of correlational outliers and the measure used, but the maximum likelihood approach is the most robust performance…

Simulation studies (N=4,000 simulees) examined the effect of misspecification of the latent ability distribution (theta) on the accuracy and efficiency of marginal maximum likelihood (MML) item parameter estimates and on MML statistics to test sufficiency and conditional independence. Results were compared to those of the conditional maximum…

A class of models is presented for gamma distributed random variables. These additive, multiplicative, and combined additive-multiplicative models are more flexible than classical linear models with respect to the structure that can be imposed on expected values. As a special case, a class of psychometric models for reaction times is presented.…

Used simulation to compare structural equation modeling methods for estimating and testing hypotheses about an interaction between continuous variables. Findings indicate that the two-stage least squares procedure exhibited more bias and lower power than the other methods. The Jaccard-Wan procedure (J. Jaccard and C. Wan, 1995) and maximum…

The similarity of item and ability parameter estimations was investigated using two numerical analysis techniques via marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) with a large simulated data set (n=1,000 examinees) and changing the number of quadrature points. MMLE estimation uses a numerical analysis technique to integrate examinees' abilities…

Factor analysis, image analysis, and principal component analysis are compared with respect to the factor patterns they would produce under various conditions. The general conclusion that is reached is that the three methods produce results that are equivalent. (Author/JKS)

A Monte Carlo study was conducted to assess the robustness of the limited information two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation procedure on a confirmatory factor analysis model with nonnormal distributions. Full information maximum likelihood methods were used for comparison. One hundred model replications were used to generate data. (TJH)

Studied the extent to which three appropriateness indexes, Z(sub 3), ECIZ4, and W, are well standardized in a Monte Carlo study. The ECIZ4 most closely approximated a normal distribution, and its skewness and kurtosis were more stable and less affected by test length and item response theory model than the others. (SLD)

This study explores the nature of the relationship between transformational leadership and two work-related attitudes, organizational commitment and job satisfaction, by comparing Kenya and the United States. The results show that transformational leadership has a strong and positive effect on organizational commitment and job satisfaction in both…

This study was designed to compare the accuracy of three commonly used ability estimation procedures under the graded response model. The three methods, maximum likelihood (ML), expected a posteriori (EAP), and maximum a posteriori (MAP), were compared using a recovery study design for two sample sizes, two underlying ability distributions, and…

A short review of the different estimation procedures that have been used in association with the Rasch model is provided. These procedures include joint, conditional, and marginal maximum likelihood methods; Bayesian methods; minimum chi-square methods; and paired comparison estimation. A comparison of the marginal maximum likelihood estimation…

The overall purpose of this research was to compare a maximum likelihood based tailored testing procedure to a Bayesian tailored testing procedure. The results indicated that both tailored testing procedures produced equally reliable ability estimates. Also an analysis of test length indicated that reasonable ability estimates could be obtained…