Item Response Theory

A complete discussion of fundamental and advanced topics in Item Response Theory written by pioneers in the field

In Item Response Theory, accomplished psychometricians Darrell Bock and Robert Gibbons deliver a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of the theoretical foundations and applications of Item Response Theory (IRT). Covering both unidimensional and multidimensional IRT, as well as related adaptive test administration of previously calibrated item banks, the book addresses the growing need for understanding of this topic as the use of IRT spreads to other fields.

The first book on the topic that offers a complete and unified treatment of its subject, Item Response Theory prepares researchers and students to understand and apply IRT and multidimensional IRT to fields like education, mental health and marketing. Accessible to first year-graduate students with a foundation in the behavioral or social sciences, basic statistics, and generalized linear models, the book walks readers through everything from the logic of IRT to cutting edge applications of the technique.

Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of:

• A thorough introduction to the foundations of Item Response Theory, including its logic and origins, model-based measurement, psychological scaling, and classical test theory

• An exploration of selected mathematical and statistical results, including points, point sets, and set operations, probability, sampling, and joint, conditional, and marginal probability

• Discussions of unidimensional and multidimensional IRT models, including item parameter estimation with binary and polytomous data

• Analysis of dimensionality, differential item functioning, and multiple group IRT

Perfect for graduate students and researchers studying and working with psychometrics in psychology, quantitative psychology, educational measurement, marketing, and statistics, Item Response Theory will also benefit researchers interested in patient reported outcomes in health research.