Rational Problem Solving

Rational Problem Solving
Principle:	Rasch application:
1. Problems are identified by comparing actual performance to an expected standard performance	The standard of performance, the measure, is estimated from all relevant data
2. Problems are deviations in actual performance from the expected standard	Discrepancies are flagged by item/person misfit and standardized residuals
3. A precise and complete description of the problem is needed to identify a solution: a) what is happening, b) where it is happening, c) when it is happening, d) to what extent it is happening	Detailed quality-control fit analysis, rather than non-specific global evaluations, facilitate precise diagnosis
4. The cause of the problem will be found by comparing problem and non-problem situations. Problems rarely affect everything	Comparison of available information about well-behaved and ill-behaved items/persons, and comparative analyses of subsets of substantively different items/persons point to problem sources
5. Recent problems result from some change that has caused an unwanted deviation from expectations	Misfit to old measures or comparisons of old and new measures flag changes for further diagnosis
Based on R. K. Wagner (1994) Learning to solve practical problems. PERQ, 15, 2, p. 7.

Rational problem solving. Linacre JM. Rasch Measurement Transactions 1994 7:4 p.325

Rational problem solving. Linacre JM. … Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1994, 7:4 p.325