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Bayesian Estimation of the DINA Q matrix

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Abstract

Cognitive diagnosis models are partially ordered latent class models and are used to classify students into skill mastery profiles. The deterministic inputs, noisy “and” gate model (DINA) is a popular psychometric model for cognitive diagnosis. Application of the DINA model requires content expert knowledge of a Q matrix, which maps the attributes or skills needed to master a collection of items. Misspecification of Q has been shown to yield biased diagnostic classifications. We propose a Bayesian framework for estimating the DINA Q matrix. The developed algorithm builds upon prior research (Chen, Liu, Xu, & Ying, in J Am Stat Assoc 110(510):850–866, 2015) and ensures the estimated Q matrix is identified. Monte Carlo evidence is presented to support the accuracy of parameter recovery. The developed methodology is applied to Tatsuoka’s fraction-subtraction dataset.

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Correspondence to Steven Andrew Culpepper.

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Chen, Y., Culpepper, S.A., Chen, Y. et al. Bayesian Estimation of the DINA Q matrix. Psychometrika 83, 89–108 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-017-9579-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-017-9579-4

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