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ERIC Number: EJ897872
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0655
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Reporting Valid and Reliable Overall Scores and Domain Scores
Yao, Lihua
Journal of Educational Measurement, v47 n3 p339-360 Fall 2010
In educational assessment, overall scores obtained by simply averaging a number of domain scores are sometimes reported. However, simply averaging the domain scores ignores the fact that different domains have different score points, that scores from those domains are related, and that at different score points the relationship between overall score and domain score may be different. To report reliable and valid overall scores and domain scores, I investigated the performance of four methods using both real and simulation data: (a) the unidimensional IRT model; (b) the higher-order IRT model, which simultaneously estimates the overall ability and domain abilities; (c) the multidimensional IRT (MIRT) model, which estimates domain abilities and uses the maximum information method to obtain the overall ability; and (d) the bifactor general model. My findings suggest that the MIRT model not only provides reliable domain scores, but also produces reliable overall scores. The overall score from the MIRT maximum information method has the smallest standard error of measurement. In addition, unlike the other models, there is no linear relationship assumed between overall score and domain scores. Recommendations for sizes of correlations between domains and the number of items needed for reporting purposes are provided.
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/WileyCDA/
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: N/A