Bayesian or Non-Bayesian: A Comparison Study of Item Parameter Estimation in the Three-Parameter Logistic Model

Abstract

Through a large-scale simulation study, this article compares item parameter estimates obtained by the marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) and marginal Bayes modal estimation (MBME) procedures in the 3-parameter logistic model. The impact of different prior specifications on the MBME estimates is also investigated using carefully selected prior distributions. The results indicate that, in general, the MBME provides more accurate item parameter estimates than the MMLE procedure. The impact of different priors on the Bayesian estimates is modest when the examinee sample size is not extremely small.