This article is concerned with the statistical detection of copying on multiple-choice exams. As an alternative to existing permutation- and model-based copy-detection approaches, a simple randomization p-value (RP) test is proposed. The RP test, which is based on an intuitive match-score statistic, makes no assumptions about the distribution of…

Computer-based and web-based testing have become increasingly popular in recent years. Their popularity has dramatically expanded the availability of response time data. Compared to the conventional item response data that are often dichotomous or polytomous, response time has the advantage of being continuous and can be collected in an…

A Monte Carlo simulation study was conducted to compare fit indices used for detecting the correct latent class in three dichotomous mixture item response theory (IRT) models. Ten indices were considered: Akaike's information criterion (AIC), the corrected AIC (AICc), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), consistent AIC (CAIC), Draper's…

In most contexts of student skills assessment, whether the test material is administered by the teacher or within a learning environment, there is a strong incentive to minimize the number of questions or exercises administered in order to get an accurate assessment. This minimization objective can be framed as a Q-matrix design problem: given a…

In psychological and survey research, the prevalence and serious consequences of careless responses from unmotivated participants are well known. In this study, we propose to iteratively detect careless responders and cleanse the data by removing their responses. The careless responders are detected using person-fit statistics. In two simulation…

MOCCA is an online assessment of inferential reading comprehension for students in 3rd through 6th grades. It can be used to identify good readers and, for struggling readers, identify those who overly rely on either a Paraphrasing process or an Elaborating process when their comprehension is incorrect. Here a propensity to over-rely on…

The Mantel-Haenszel procedure is a popular technique for determining items that may exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). Numerous studies have focused on the strengths and weaknesses of this procedure, but few have focused the performance of the Mantel-Haenszel method when structurally missing data are present as a result of test booklet…

I address two issues that were inspired by my work on the Dutch Committee on Tests and Testing (COTAN). The first issue is the understanding of problems test constructors and researchers using tests have of psychometric knowledge. I argue that this understanding is important for a field, like psychometrics, for which the dissemination of…

Latent class models for cognitive diagnosis often begin with specification of a matrix that indicates which attributes or skills are needed for each item. Then by imposing restrictions that take this into account, along with a theory governing how subjects interact with items, parametric formulations of item response functions are derived and…

An index is proposed to detect cheating on multiple-choice examinations, and its use is evaluated through simulations. The proposed index is based on the compound binomial distribution. In total, 360 simulated data sets reflecting 12 different cheating (copying) situations were obtained and used for the study of the sensitivity of the index in…

This study compares the ability of the multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC) confirmatory factor analysis model to correctly identify cases of differential item functioning (DIF) with more established methods. Although the MIMIC model might have application in identifying DIF for multiple grouping variables, there has been little…