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A rasch model for partial credit scoring

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Abstract

A unidimensional latent trait model for responses scored in two or more ordered categories is developed. This “Partial Credit” model is a member of the family of latent trait models which share the property of parameter separability and so permit “specifically objective” comparisons of persons and items. The model can be viewed as an extension of Andrich's Rating Scale model to situations in which ordered response alternatives are free to vary in number and structure from item to item. The difference between the parameters in this model and the “category boundaries” in Samejima's Graded Response model is demonstrated. An unconditional maximum likelihood procedure for estimating the model parameters is developed.

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Reference notes

  • Rasch, G. Objektivitet i samfundsvidenskaberne et metodeproblem. Paper presented at the University of Copenhagen, 1972 (mimeo).

  • Masters, G. N. A Rasch model for rating scales. Doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago, 1980.

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  • Masters, G. N. & Wright, B. D. A model for partial credit scoring.Research Memorandum No. 31, MESA Psychometric Laboratory, Department of Education, University of Chicago, 1981.

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Preparation of this paper was supported by grants from the Spencer Foundation and the National Institute for Justice. I would like to thank Professor Benjamin D. Wright of the University of Chicago for his very kind help with the various drafts of this paper.

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Masters, G.N. A rasch model for partial credit scoring. Psychometrika 47, 149–174 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02296272

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02296272

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