Expected A Posteriori (EAP) Measures

Under Rasch model conditions, there is some probability that a person will succeed or fail on any item, no matter how easy or hard. This means that there is some probability that any person could produce any response string. Even the most able person could fail on every item.

The measure estimated for a person is usually that for which the observed response string is most likely, or that for which the response string best fits a Rasch model. We may, however, have some rough idea about a person's ability measure (or an item's difficulty) prior to the current data collection and wish to incorporate this idea into the newly estimated measure. To do this, we calibrate the test items in the usual way. Then we combine the item calibrations, our prior rough idea, and the observed responses to obtain an improved, a posteriori, person measure. Mislevy and Stocking (1989) recommend this approach for IRT models. John Uebersax (1993 and on his website) outlines a general procedure for this.

The technique capitalizes on an insight of Thomas Bayes:
Prior Probability x Data Probability => Posterior Probability

which implies that
Prob (B' given {X}) =
Prob (B' ) x Prob ({X} given B' ) / Sum over all B [ Prob (B) x Prob ({X} given B) ]

where B' is a particular value of the person measure, and the sum is over all possible values of our rough idea, B. {X} is the person's response string. The EAP estimate of the person measure is the expected value of this:
EAP estimate = Sum over all B [B x Prob (B given {X})].

Thus, suppose that our rough idea, the prior distribution of B, φ(B), is a convenient distribution, such as N(μ,σ²). The test consists i=1,L items. PXni is the probability of person n of ability B scoring Xni on item i.

EAP estimates may be more central or more diverse than MLE estimates depending on the choice of prior distribution.

Then


This can be evaluated using numeric quadrature to approximate the integrals.

John M. Linacre

Mislevy RJ & Stocking ML (1989) A consumer's guide to LOGIST and BILOG. Applied Psychological Measurement, 13, 57-75.

Uebersax JS (1993) Statistical modeling of expert ratings on medical treatment appropriateness. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 88, 421-427.

Expected A Posteriori (EAP) Measures. Uebersax JS. … 16:3 p.891


Expected A Posteriori (EAP) Measures. Uebersax JS. … Rasch Measurement Transactions, 2002, 16:3 p.891



Rasch-Related Resources: Rasch Measurement YouTube Channel
Rasch Measurement Transactions & Rasch Measurement research papers - free An Introduction to the Rasch Model with Examples in R (eRm, etc.), Debelak, Strobl, Zeigenfuse Rasch Measurement Theory Analysis in R, Wind, Hua Applying the Rasch Model in Social Sciences Using R, Lamprianou El modelo métrico de Rasch: Fundamentación, implementación e interpretación de la medida en ciencias sociales (Spanish Edition), Manuel González-Montesinos M.
Rasch Models: Foundations, Recent Developments, and Applications, Fischer & Molenaar Probabilistic Models for Some Intelligence and Attainment Tests, Georg Rasch Rasch Models for Measurement, David Andrich Constructing Measures, Mark Wilson Best Test Design - free, Wright & Stone
Rating Scale Analysis - free, Wright & Masters
Virtual Standard Setting: Setting Cut Scores, Charalambos Kollias Diseño de Mejores Pruebas - free, Spanish Best Test Design A Course in Rasch Measurement Theory, Andrich, Marais Rasch Models in Health, Christensen, Kreiner, Mesba Multivariate and Mixture Distribution Rasch Models, von Davier, Carstensen
Rasch Books and Publications: Winsteps and Facets
Applying the Rasch Model (Winsteps, Facets) 4th Ed., Bond, Yan, Heene Advances in Rasch Analyses in the Human Sciences (Winsteps, Facets) 1st Ed., Boone, Staver Advances in Applications of Rasch Measurement in Science Education, X. Liu & W. J. Boone Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences (Winsteps) Boone, Staver, Yale Appliquer le modèle de Rasch: Défis et pistes de solution (Winsteps) E. Dionne, S. Béland
Introduction to Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (Facets), Thomas Eckes Rasch Models for Solving Measurement Problems (Facets), George Engelhard, Jr. & Jue Wang Statistical Analyses for Language Testers (Facets), Rita Green Invariant Measurement with Raters and Rating Scales: Rasch Models for Rater-Mediated Assessments (Facets), George Engelhard, Jr. & Stefanie Wind Aplicação do Modelo de Rasch (Português), de Bond, Trevor G., Fox, Christine M
Exploring Rating Scale Functioning for Survey Research (R, Facets), Stefanie Wind Rasch Measurement: Applications, Khine Winsteps Tutorials - free
Facets Tutorials - free
Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (Facets) - free, J.M. Linacre Fairness, Justice and Language Assessment (Winsteps, Facets), McNamara, Knoch, Fan

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