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ERIC Number: EJ1491278
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Dec
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0655
EISSN: EISSN-1745-3984
Available Date: 2025-09-01
Comparing Data-Driven Methods for Removing Options in Assessment Items
William Muntean1; Joe Betts1; Zhuoran Wang1; Hao Jia1
Journal of Educational Measurement, v62 n4 p588-607 2025
Test items with problematic options often require revision to improve their psychometric properties. When an option is identified as ambiguous or nonfunctioning, the traditional approach involves removing the option and conducting another field test to gather new response data--a process that, while effective, is resource-intensive. This study compares two methods for handling option removal: the Retesting method (administering modified items to new examinees) versus the Recalculating method (computationally removing options from existing response data). Through a controlled experiment with multiple-response and matrix-format items, we examined whether these methods produce equivalent item characteristics. Results show striking similarities between methods across multiple psychometric item properties. These findings suggest that the Recalculating method may offer an efficient alternative for items with sufficient option choices. We discuss implementation considerations and present our experimental design and analytical approach as a framework that other testing programs can adapt to evaluate whether the Recalculating method is appropriate for their specific contexts.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1National Council of State Boards of Nursing