Available Rasch software is listed at www.rasch.org/software.htm.
"BIGSTEPS is a powerful and flexible tool for analyzing item response data using Rasch measurement models... Because it is a MS-DOS-based program, the BIGSTEPS interface seems somewhat cumbersome... A Windows-based version of BIGSTEPS would be a welcome addition."
Carol Morrison Featherman (1997) Software Review: BIGSTEPS Rasch Model Computer Program, Applied Psychological Measurement, 21:3, 279-284.
John M. Linacre (BIGSTEPS programmer) responds:
These are exciting times for Rasch measurement software. Rasch
theory has triumphed over severe conceptual and practical
challenges. Today, the focus has shifted to providing
comprehensive, flexible, easy-to-use software. An early version of
a Windows-95-native version of BIGSTEPS, called WINSTEPS, is
available. For those
requiring capacity beyond the BIGSTEPS limit of 32,000 persons,
WINSTEPS now analyzes 1,000,000 persons. User access to control
and output files is also improved. This summer we will incorporate
a user input and control interface, and provide immediate on-screen
graphical displays. Our free student/evaluation Rasch program,
MINISTEP, will be upgraded simultaneously.
Looking ahead, we intend to go beyond merely "doing what we do now, only doing it better". The current BIGSTEPS control and file structure is mastered by workshop participants in two hours. What takes time, experience and expertise is interpreting and acting on the wealth of information provided by most Rasch programs. We plan a two-level help system. At the first level will be a succinct explanation of any word or number pointed at by the user. At the second level will be an expert system that will scan the output, identifying and diagnosing features of the analysis meriting the user's attention. To activate this feature, you will just click on the "Wright-now" button!
Featherman C.M., Linacre J.M. (1998) Review of BIGSTEPS. Rasch Measurement Transactions 11:4 p. 588.
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Quest offers a comprehensive test and questionnaire analysis environment by providing a data analyst with access to the most recent developments in Rasch measurement theory, as well as a range of traditional analysis procedures. It includes an easy-to-use control language with flexible and informative output. Quest can be used to construct and validate variables based on both dichotomous and polytomous observations. It scores and analyzes multiple choice tests, Likert-type rating scales, short answer and partial credit items. The Rasch analysis provides item estimates, case estimates, and fit statistics; and the results from this analysis can be accessed through a variety of informative tables and maps. Additional analyses report counts, percentages, and point-biserials for each possible response to each item. A variety of reliability indices are available.
Quest runs in batch mode, interactive mode, or a combination of the two. The batch mode conveniently allows a one-step submission of routine analysis jobs, while the interactive environment facilitates exploration of the properties of test data. In interactive mode, the Quest Display Manager allows analysis results to be viewed on the screen.
Subgroup and Subscale Analyses
Quest allows you to define subgroups and subscales so that analyses
can be performed for any combination of subgroup and subscale.
User-defined Variables
Quest lets you specify variables that define subgroups, and
correlate variables with case estimates on any subscale.
Anchoring Parameter Estimates
Quest allows you to anchor (i.e., fix) any item or case estimate
to known values, typically obtained from previous analyses. This
facilitates equating of tests and item banking.
Dealing with Missing Data
Quest provides flexible procedures for dealing with missing data.
You can make Quest ignore certain codes or "holes" in the data. You
can calibrate several test forms together as long as there are
links (common cases or common items) between forms.
Exporting Files
Quest lets you export analysis results to text files with a choice
of tabs, spaces, or commas as field delimiters to ease importation
into databases and spreadsheets.
Scoring and Recoding Data
Quest provides flexible, easy-to-use methods for test scoring and
data recoding. Easy recoding facilitates regrouping of items and
redefinition of scores.
Differential Item Functioning
The "compare" command provides Mantel-Haenszel and Rasch tests of
differential item functioning.
Graphical Output
The output emphasis is graphical. Visual displays are used to
summarize key information such as item difficulty and fit.
User Interface
The user interface is designed primarily to encourage you to
explore test data. The interactive environment and the Display
Manager included in the program allow you to browse through the
results of commands. On the basis of these results, you can decide
upon the next actions, carry them out, and study the new results.
Command statements are logical, easy to learn, and have minimal fixed syntax. The Display Manager lets you scroll up or down an output, request the next output, and save the output to file.
A batch processing mode allows you to submit a sequence of commands stored in an external submit file. Quest allows you to stack jobs, which means that any number of jobs can be run without attendance.
Help desk
A "help desk" is provided for support in the use of command language
and with software problems.
System requirements
Quest has been implemented on MS-DOS, Macintosh, and VAX/VMS.
Raymond J. Adams, Siek-Toon Khoo
Australian Council for Educational Research
Private Bag 55
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
email: Quest@acer.edu.au
www.acer.edu.au
Adams R.J., Khoo S-T (1998) QUEST - Version 2.1 The Interactive Test Analysis System. Rasch Measurement Transactions 11:4 p. 598.
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The RUMM software package provides a powerful and flexible means of performing Rasch item analysis. RUMM is a real and total Windows product and not a look-alike Windows presentation (the look-alike presentations have a shell covering a DOS-based program underneath, which makes them cumbersome). With each analysis, RUMM produces tables, displays, plots and graphics to assist in the interpretation of your items in relation to the variable under construction. All displays in RUMM can be saved to files for importing into your favorite word processor (to enhance Reports) and spreadsheet (for further analysis and plotting).
Dynamic and interactive analyses of item response data using the class of Rasch models for measurement
Rasch measure estimation by means of the pair-wise conditional algorithm, which yields statistically consistent estimates of parameters.
Multiple choice items - including a sophisticated distractor analysis technique.
Polytomous items with equal and unequal categories.
Combined MCQ and polytomous formats in one scoring setup - by analyzing all items together you can construct your variable and estimate the person abilities in one operation.
Linking and converting raw scores from different tests or subtests to the same scale is a matter of clicking on a couple of buttons.
Instant graphic displays.
Editing of invalid responses, data entry errors.
Rescoring of category responses after inspecting the category characteristic curves.
Multiple data sets can be imported.
Batch file creation to assist with repetitive item specifications (e.g., MCQ scoring keys for long tests).
Anchoring item parameters from a previous analysis to enable person abilities to be estimated in a prior frame of reference.
These features have helped RUMM enjoy a growing popularity. Copies have now been sold in many countries: UK, USA, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Education Boards of Studies in the Australian states of Western Australian, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are using RUMM for tests involving mixes of multiple choice and extended response items.
RUMM is also available in a student edition designed especially for test and item analysis courses. Special rates apply for both students and the lecturer.
Barry Sheridan
RUMM Laboratory
14 Dodonaea Court
Duncraig WA 6023
Australia
rummlab@faroc.com.au
RUMM (Andrich, Sheridan & Luo, 1997)
Sheridan B. (1998) RUMM Item Analysis Package: Rasch Unidimensional Measurement Model. Rasch Measurement Transactions 11:4 p. 599.
Review of BIGSTEPS. Featherman C.M., Linacre J.M. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1998, 11:4 p. 588.
Forum | Rasch Measurement Forum to discuss any Rasch-related topic |
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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 | |
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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 |
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