TitleComputerized adaptive testing for measuring development of young children
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsJacobusse, G, Buuren, S
JournalStatistics in Medicine
Volume26
Edition2006/11/30
Number13
Pagination2629-38
Date PublishedJun 15
Publication Languageeng
ISBN Number0277-6715 (Print)
Accession Number17133649
Keywords*Child Development, *Models, Statistical, Child, Preschool, Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/*statistics & numerical data, Humans, Netherlands
Abstract

Developmental indicators that are used for routine measurement in The Netherlands are usually chosen to optimally identify delayed children. Measurements on the majority of children without problems are therefore quite imprecise. This study explores the use of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to monitor the development of young children. CAT is expected to improve the measurement precision of the instrument. We do two simulation studies - one with real data and one with simulated data - to evaluate the usefulness of CAT. It is shown that CAT selects developmental indicators that maximally match the individual child, so that all children can be measured to the same precision.