ProjectGLI – On a generalization of the local independence assumption in item response theory
Basic data
Acronym:
GLI
Title:
On a generalization of the local independence assumption in item response theory
Duration:
01/04/2021 to 01/04/2024
Abstract / short description:
Local independence (LI) is a fundamental assumption of Item Response Theory (IRT) and captures the idea that, conditional on the value of some latent variable (e.g., ability), there is no association between a series of manifest variables (e.g., answers to items in psychological or educational tests). In practice, however, several effects (e.g., fatigue, changes in format, dependence between items) can substantially violate LI. This threatens model validity, invalidates the likelihood, and results in problematic estimates of the parameters and false substantial inferences. Research on the topic has been extensive, yet violations of LI remain an open problem with blurred boundaries. In an attempt to disentangle the concepts involved, a generalization of LI based on Knowledge Space Theory (KST) was recently suggested. This integrated KST-IRT approach accounts indeed for `invasive' relations between items while retaining the usual characterization of LI. The combinatorial and set-theoretic approach of KST is used to identify the partial order representing the relation between the items and to obtain a generalized class of likelihoods that accounts for both response and trait dependence. Furthermore, the KST-IRT approach allows generalizing and transferring of techniques from polytomous items to collections of dichotomous ones, thus providing a further approach to the modeling of local dependence and an alternative item-based approach to testlets. The present project aims at investigating whether the KST-IRT approach can be used to formally systematize and investigate the different forms of local dependence and the different - and often unlinked - approaches that can be found in literature. Addiitonally, a new perspective will be provided on the modelling and testing of local dependence, polytomous items, and testlets based on bringing together different definitions and approaches that originated in the fields of Psychometrics and Mathematical Psychology. From an applied perspective, the project aims at implementing estimation procedures for the KST-IRT models in the open source R framework.
Keywords:
Local stochastic independence
Item Response Theory
Knowedge Space Theory
Latent variable models
Polytomous models
Dimensionality
Factor Analysis
Latent class models
Empirical Indistinguishability
Estimation methods
R programming language
Involved staff
Managers
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
University of Tübingen
University of Tübingen
Contact persons
Methods Center
Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Faculty of Science
University of Tübingen
University of Tübingen
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science
Local organizational units
Methods Center
Department of Social Sciences
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Funders
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany