On the finiteness of the weighted likelihood estimator of ability

[en] The purpose of this note is to focus on the finiteness of the weighted likelihood estimator (WLE) of ability in the context of dichotomous and polytomous item response theory (IRT) models. It is established that the WLE always returns finite ability estimates. This general result is valid for dichotomous (one-, two-, three- and four-parameter logistic) IRT models, the class of polytomous difference models and divide-by-total models, independently of the number of items, the item parameters and the response patterns. Further implications of this result are outlined.

Disciplines :

Education & instruction

Author, co-author :

Magis, David ; Université de Liège > Département des Sciences de l'éducation > Psychométrie et édumétrie

Verhelst, Norman

Language :

English

Title :

On the finiteness of the weighted likelihood estimator of ability

Publication date :

2017

Journal title :

Psychometrika

ISSN :

0033-3123

eISSN :

1860-0980

Publisher :

Psychonomic Society, Research Triangle Park, United States - Virginia

Volume :

Pages :

637-647

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 06 April 2016

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