01689nas a2200145 4500008003900000245007800039210006900117300001200186490000700198520124300205100001201448700001301460700001701473856005301490 2014 d00aA Comparison of Four Item-Selection Methods for Severely Constrained CATs0 aComparison of Four ItemSelection Methods for Severely Constraine a677-6960 v743 a

This study compared four item-selection procedures developed for use with severely constrained computerized adaptive tests (CATs). Severely constrained CATs refer to those adaptive tests that seek to meet a complex set of constraints that are often not conclusive to each other (i.e., an item may contribute to the satisfaction of several constraints at the same time). The procedures examined in the study included the weighted deviation model (WDM), the weighted penalty model (WPM), the maximum priority index (MPI), and the shadow test approach (STA). In addition, two modified versions of the MPI procedure were introduced to deal with an edge case condition that results in the item selection procedure becoming dysfunctional during a test. The results suggest that the STA worked best among all candidate methods in terms of measurement accuracy and constraint management. For the other three heuristic approaches, they did not differ significantly in measurement accuracy and constraint management at the lower bound level. However, the WPM method appears to perform considerably better in overall constraint management than either the WDM or MPI method. Limitations and future research directions were also discussed.

1 aHe, Wei1 aDiao, Qi1 aHauser, Carl uhttp://epm.sagepub.com/content/74/4/677.abstract01409nas a2200157 4500008003900000245009300039210006900132300001000201490000700211520091300218100002301131700001501154700001701169700001301186856005201199 2013 d00aThe Influence of Item Calibration Error on Variable-Length Computerized Adaptive Testing0 aInfluence of Item Calibration Error on VariableLength Computeriz a24-400 v373 a

Variable-length computerized adaptive testing (VL-CAT) allows both items and test length to be “tailored” to examinees, thereby achieving the measurement goal (e.g., scoring precision or classification) with as few items as possible. Several popular test termination rules depend on the standard error of the ability estimate, which in turn depends on the item parameter values. However, items are chosen on the basis of their parameter estimates, and capitalization on chance may occur. In this article, the authors investigated the effects of capitalization on chance on test length and classification accuracy in several VL-CAT simulations. The results confirm that capitalization on chance occurs in VL-CAT and has complex effects on test length, ability estimation, and classification accuracy. These results have important implications for the design and implementation of VL-CATs.

1 aPatton, Jeffrey, M1 aYing Cheng1 aYuan, Ke-Hai1 aDiao, Qi uhttp://apm.sagepub.com/content/37/1/24.abstract01277nas a2200133 4500008003900000245006600039210006500105300001200170490000700182520086900189100001301058700001901071856005301090 2013 d00aIntegrating Test-Form Formatting Into Automated Test Assembly0 aIntegrating TestForm Formatting Into Automated Test Assembly a361-3740 v373 a

Automated test assembly uses the methodology of mixed integer programming to select an optimal set of items from an item bank. Automated test-form generation uses the same methodology to optimally order the items and format the test form. From an optimization point of view, production of fully formatted test forms directly from the item pool using a simultaneous optimization model is more attractive than any of the current, more time-consuming two-stage processes. The goal of this study was to provide such simultaneous models both for computer-delivered and paper forms, as well as explore their performances relative to two-stage optimization. Empirical examples are presented to show that it is possible to automatically produce fully formatted optimal test forms directly from item pools up to some 2,000 items on a regular PC in realistic times.

1 aDiao, Qi1 aLinden, Wim, J uhttp://apm.sagepub.com/content/37/5/361.abstract