Item Response Theory Linking Procedures for the Development of Extensive Item Pools

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Abstract

In educational assessments, a variety of applications of Item Response Theory (IRT) often require linking to achieve comparability for item parameter estimates obtained from different test forms. This study evaluates performance of concurrent calibration and combinations of concurrent calibration with the Stocking-Lord (1983) test characteristic curve (TCC) linking method for the purpose of developing an extensive item pool. The simulation factors considered in this study are linking design, number of forms, common item composition, and the item type. The simulation study results show that concurrent calibration appears to outperform and can be implemented for the item pool development.

Authors

• Hyeon-Ah Kang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Ying Lu, Educational Testing Service