Basics of Item Response Theory

(Frank B. Baker)

Sections

1) The Item Characteristic Curve (ICC)

2) ICC models

3) Estimating item parameters

4) The Test Characteristic Curve (TCC)

5) Estimating an examinee’s ability

6) The Information Function

7) Test Calibration

8) Specifying the characteristics of a test

Procedure for each section

Forvalues x in 1/8 {

Overview of section `x’

Worked example(s)

Exercises

Summary of what we’ve learnt

}

Baker’s Software

Clunky by today’s standards but extremely effective

Cannot be used to analyseone’s own data

Creates too many windows – sometimes better to shut it down and re-open

Be patient with it and you’llbe rewarded

Can be downloaded from http://echo.edres.org:8080/irt/baker/software.htm

Download the accompanying software (400KB) (You can download and run this program later or you can run this program from its current location.)

Download BIRT setup.exe

MSVBM50.DLLThe software requires the Visual Basic 5.0 run-time package, Msvbvm50.dll,

which may already be on your computer typically in the c:\windows\system\ directory. If not, you can obtain the full 1.24 megabyte support package from

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q180071

Or, you can download a 650KB install program for msvbm50.dll from us. This program should go in the system directory (typically c:\windows\system).

Download vb5run.exe

MSFLXGRD.OCXThe software also requires MSFLXGRD.OCX which may not be on WinXP

computers. You can download the file here. It would go either in the same area as Dr. Baker's software or in your c:\windows\system32 area.

MSFLXGRD.OCX