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What it’s about

The "Handbook of Modern Item Response Theory" is an essential reference for psychometricians, educational researchers, and practitioners who seek to move beyond the classical IRT models for dichotomously-scored items. While traditional models laid the groundwork, modern testing demands more sophisticated tools to handle diverse data formats like partial credit, nominal categories, and response latencies, as well as complex psychological constructs involving multiple abilities or cognitive components. This comprehensive volume, with chapters written by the original proponents or key developers of each model, provides a structured and accessible overview of the state-of-the-art in IRT. Each chapter details a specific model's motivation, mathematical formulation, parameter estimation techniques, and practical applications with empirical examples, making it an indispensable resource for both daily reference and advanced graduate study.

The through-line

Who it’s for

A researcher, practitioner, or graduate student in psychometrics, educational measurement, or a related field. They want to apply appropriate, state-of-the-art statistical models to their testing data, but find that traditional dichotomous IRT models are insufficient for their needs. They desire to accurately measure complex constructs and handle diverse data formats like partial-credit scores, rating scales, response times, or multidimensional abilities.

The problem

The reader has complex test data (polytomous, multidimensional, timed, etc.) that cannot be adequately analyzed with the standard 1PL, 2PL, or 3PL models for dichotomous items. They lack a single, comprehensive resource that explains the modern extensions of IRT. They feel frustrated and limited by the constraints of classical test theory and basic IRT. They are uncertain about which advanced model to choose for their specific problem and how to implement it correctly, feeling potentially incompetent or behind the curve in their field.

The plan

1. Start with the introductory chapter to review the foundations of dichotomous IRT models.
2. Consult the relevant section of the handbook based on the specific type of data or measurement problem (e.g., Polytomous Models, Multidimensional Models, Models for Response Time).
3. Read the dedicated chapter for the model of interest, following its consistent format: Introduction, Model Presentation, Parameter Estimation, Goodness of Fit, and Empirical Example.

The payoff

The reader will be able to confidently select, apply, and interpret the most appropriate IRT model for any given assessment scenario. · Their analyses will be more accurate and nuanced, extracting more information from their data. · They will be regarded as an expert in modern psychometrics, capable of solving complex measurement challenges.

See our guide

• Measure The Unmeasurable — Reliability, Validity, And Item Response Theory →