Handbook of Item Response Theory, Volume 1

ABSTRACT

This is a review of the 33 chapters included in the models volume of the Handbook of Item Response Theory. The chapters cover longstanding topics such as the Rasch model, as well as newly unfolding approaches that integrate response times, encompass non-monotonic scales, and take a non-parametric approach to item response. This essay offers a quick overview for readers seeking guidance about which chapters are of greatest potential interest given their own research agendas.

KEYWORDS:

• Spatial models
• item response theory

Notes

1. In the chapter Muraki and Muraki refer to the item score as $a$ and the item discrimination parameter as $a_i$, I change the latter to ${\alpha }_i$ to make the already elaborate notation at least somewhat easier to follow, I also replace $a_i{b}_i$ with ${\tilde{b}}_i$ as it amounts in either case to a free parameter indexed by $i$.

2. Of course, the labor economists have long since estimated this model using the conditional logit framework.

3. There is some adjustment for the minimum possible response time given the mechanics of answering.