Constructing and Evaluating Measures: Applications of the Rasch Model

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Constructing and Evaluating Measures
Applications of the Rasch Model
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A brief introduction

• Rasch measurement is potentially relevant
  whenever an assessment or questionnaire is
  constructed to measure the degree of some
  property inherent in persons or other entities.
• The Rasch model is a one-parameter logistic model
  within item response theory (IRT) in which the
  amount of a given latent trait in a person and
  the amount of that same latent trait reflected in
  various items can be estimated independently yet
  still compared explicitly to one another.

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Why the Rasch model?

• The Rasch model is the simplest of IRT models
• Many of us are in fields that require us to be
  effective and efficient.
• The aim of Rasch measurement is analogous to the
  construction of a ruler
• Many of us are working on creating measures or
  verifying measures function as we expect.

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Objectives

• To introduce the theory of the Rasch model
• To demonstrate the utility of the Rasch model
• To present applications using Winsteps software
• available at www.winsteps.com (free student
  version)
• 7 examples will be presented.
• Each presenter will take 2 3 questions at the
  end.
• Concluding the session We will invite
  questions, as well as audience reflections and
  experiences.

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The Examples

• Tacit Knowledge of Superintendents- Chris
• Traditional Religious Principles and Objectives-
  Gill
• AAEE (Teacher Supply and Demand) Survey- Jessica
• Black University Students Perceptions of
  Marriage- Bill
• CC Faculty Perceptions of Student Outcomes- Kenny
• Therapist Characteristics- Jenny
• Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale-
  Trent