The purpose of the present paper is to derive linear equating methods for the common item nonequivalent populations design from explicitly stated congeneric type test score models. The equating methods developed are compared with previously developed methods and applied to five professionally constructed examinations administered to approximately…

A theory and a procedure are presented for estimating a domain parameter and item parameters for test items in a homogeneous domain, such that the combined domain and item parameters account for observed proportions right for each item in a test. (CTM)

The applicability of a new multiple-group factor analysis of dichotomous variables is shown and contrasted with the item response theory approach to item bias analysis. Situations are considered where the same set of test items has been administered to more than one group of examinees. (Author/BS).

Use of the Mantel-Haenszel procedure as a test for differential item functioning under the Rasch model of item-response theory is examined. Results of the procedure cannot be generalized to the class of items for which item-response functions are monotonic and local independence holds. (TJH)

Drawing on recently developed methodology for structural equation modeling with categorical data, this article proposes a new approach for investigating the behavior of dichotomously scored test items in relation to other relevant (observed) variables. A linear structural model relates the latent ability variable to a set of observed scores.…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) makes possible comparison of groups of students and provides information about what these groups know and can do. The scale anchoring techniques described in this chapter address the latter purpose. The direct method and the smoothing method of scale anchoring are discussed. (SLD)

Estimating item parameters from a two-parameter normal ogive model is considered using Gibbs sampling to simulate draws from the joint posterior distribution of ability and item parameters. The method gives marginal posterior density estimates for any parameter of interest, as illustrated using data from a 33-item mathematics placement…

Multidimensional item response data were created. The strength of a general factor, the number of common factors, the distribution of items loadingon common factors, and the number of items in simulated tests were manipulated. LOGIST effectively recovered both item and trait parameters in nearly all of the experimental conditions. (Author/JAZ)

The need for scale linking in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is discussed, and the specific procedures used to carry out the linking in the context of the major analyses of the 1990 NAEP mathematics assessment are described. Issues remaining to be addressed are outlined. (SLD)