Some items are more closely related than others. Comprehension items that address the same written text and arithmetic items requiring the same operation are examples. In Rasch analysis, this is no major source for concern provided there is no extreme systematic dependency between two or a few items. When such dependency does exist, combining the separate items into one partial-credit item may be useful. Low values of the Rasch INFIT statistic signal dependency. When a diagnostically specific investigation of inter-item dependency is required, Fisher's Z is useful.
1)Obtain the Rasch-based standardized residuals for each observation of Person n on item i:
zni = (Observedni - Expectedni)/Standard Errorni
2)Correlate the standardized residuals for all pairs of items i, j across all N persons:
rij = (sum(zni znj) - sum(zni)sum(znj)/N) / N SD(zni) SD(znj)
3)Use Fisher's Z to linearize Pearson correlations:
Zij = 1/2 Loge( (1+rij)/(1-rij) )
4)Draw a histogram of the Fisher Z values. Noticeable positive skew (see Figures) indicates the presence of sets of dependent items. A cluster analysis of the Z matrix will identify the sets. Outlying positive Z values flag pairs or sets of highly dependent items for further investigation.
Quantifying item dependency. Shen L. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1996, 10:1 p.485
Forum | Rasch Measurement Forum to discuss any Rasch-related topic |
Go to Top of Page
Go to index of all Rasch Measurement Transactions
AERA members: Join the Rasch Measurement SIG and receive the printed version of RMT
Some back issues of RMT are available as bound volumes
Subscribe to Journal of Applied Measurement
Go to Institute for Objective Measurement Home Page. The Rasch Measurement SIG (AERA) thanks the Institute for Objective Measurement for inviting the publication of Rasch Measurement Transactions on the Institute's website, www.rasch.org.
Coming Rasch-related Events | |
---|---|
Oct. 4 - Nov. 8, 2024, Fri.-Fri. | On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com |
Jan. 17 - Feb. 21, 2025, Fri.-Fri. | On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com |
May 16 - June 20, 2025, Fri.-Fri. | On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com |
June 20 - July 18, 2025, Fri.-Fri. | On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Further Topics (E. Smith, Facets), www.statistics.com |
Oct. 3 - Nov. 7, 2025, Fri.-Fri. | On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com |
The URL of this page is www.rasch.org/rmt/rmt101p.htm
Website: www.rasch.org/rmt/contents.htm