Item Response Theory (Boulder, CO)
Instructor(s):
Item Response Theory (IRT) is used in a number of disciplines including sociology, political science, psychology, human development, business, and communications, as well as in education where it began as a method for the analysis of educational tests. This course is geared to individuals who are interested in the foundations and applications of item response models as tools for measurement of latent traits across disciplines. The course is designed to acquaint students with the field of item response theory (IRT). To be successful research practitioners in IRT, two factors are important: (1) familiarity with various IRT models, and (2) the ability to interpret and apply these models appropriately. This course will begin with presentation of popular item response models, their estimation, and proper interpretation, and then continue reinforcing these lessons throughout the week with numerous examples and applications using data from different disciplines (including political science, education, and psychology). Additional topics will include test equating, test development with IRT, differential item functioning, and computerized adaptive testing. All topics will be taught in a manner which emphasizes a modern approach to IRT by comparing and contrasting IRT with other statistical methods that use latent variables or random effects (e.g., confirmatory factor analysis, diagnostic classification models). The course will be focused on accessibility, with technical detail presented only when necessary for responsible application of the methods and techniques discussed.
Fee: Members = $1500; Non-members = $3000
Tags: Item Response Theory