Sample
distributions bear a paradoxical relationship to measurement. On the one
hand, they often simplify estimation or may even be required to make
estimation possible. On the other hand, surely my measure should not
depend on the distribution of the sample I happen to be measured with!
It is clearly preferable,whenever possible, to use estimation methods
that do not require person or item distributions to be specified.
The simplest sample distribution is the point distribution, hypothesizing a fixed effect. Everyone is thought to have the same amount of the attribute - but how much? Many attitude surveys are conceptualized this way. See RMT 5:4 p. 188 for an example using log-linear and one-facet logit-linear Rasch models.
When a population is thought to be represented by a central value, but individuals differ from that value in innumerable ways, each constituting a small amount, then the normal distribution is often chosen. ANOVA techniques use the normal distribution implicitly, usually without any type of fit test. The degree to which the normal distribution can simplify estimation is seen in Cohen's PROX algorithm which obtains a direct analytical solution in a situation that usually requires a non-linear, iterative approach (RMT 8:3 p. 378). Marginal maximum likelihood (MMLE) methods employ the normal distribution, sometimes to simplify estimation, sometimes to make it possible. Thus, for the 2- and 3-parameter IRT methods, a normal (or other) distribution must always be specified.
Some sample distributions are chosen strictly on their mathematical properties regardless of the empirical sample distribution. If a global test yields some degree of model-to-data fit, then the chosen distribution is accepted as representing that sample distribution. Thus, van Duijn and Jansen (1995) choose a gamma distribution for their subjects and a Dirichlet distribution for their items, becausethese produce a tractable marginal maximum likelihood estimation function for theirPoisson count data. The Figure depicts the modeled ability distributions of the pupils in their three reading-method groups.
Actual distributions can be skewed, squashed, lumpy,... Before investing effort in the analysis or estimation of a particular mathematical distribution function, it is wise to rough out histograms of the person and item score distributions (on semi-loge paper if the data are Poisson counts). Then make an informed choice of distribution. For instance, if the data are seen to be multimodal, then a uniform distribution is probably a better choice than a normal distribution (see Wright & Stone's Best Test Design p. 145 ff. for computer-free use of the uniform distribution). Once the computer has printed estimates based on your selected distribution, it is hard to admit to oneself that one has made a poor, or even misleading, choice of distribution(See RMT 5:3 p.172 for an example of how easy it is to convince oneself that a particular distribution's shape is "correct").
John M. Linacre
Van Duijn M.A.J., Jansen M.G.H. (1995) Modeling repeated count data: some extensions of the Rasch Poisson Counts model. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics 20:3, 241-258.
Linacre J.M. (1996) Choosing sample distributions. Rasch Measurement Transactions 10:2 p. 503
Choosing sample distributions. Linacre J.M. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1996, 10:2 p. 503
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