Illustrates incremental item banking using health-related quality of life data collected from two samples of patients receiving cancer treatment (n=1,755 and n=1,544). Results support findings from previous studies that have equated separate instruments by co-calibrating their items. (SLD)

Compared three developmental stage scoring systems in analyzing judgment interviews with 209 children and adults. Scoring systems were: (1) the Standard Issue Scoring System (A. Colby and L. Kohlberg, 1987); (2) the Good Life Scoring System (C. Armon, 1984); and (3) the Hierarchical Complexity Scoring System (M. Commons and others, 2000).…

Examined a procedure for identifying and resolving discrepancies in ratings, focusing on the third rater adjudication procedure used in scoring the Test of Spoken English. Results for 1,446 adult examinees demonstrate that implementing a discrepancy resolution procedure is not sufficient in itself for quality control monitoring. (SLD)

Studied whether the characteristics of the optimal categorization identified by Rasch analysis in a previous study could be maintained when the revised scale was applied to the same population (206 members of the original adult sample). Overall, the Rasch model fit well, and similar change patterns were observed in two category statistics provided…

Developed a measure of severity of mental retardation in adults, the Level of Activity in Profound/severe Mental Retardation, scale using Rasch analysis as a guide to item selection. Results from using the scale to rate 146 adults with mental retardation support the use of the scale for classification of severe and profound retardation. (SLD)

Tested the metric properties of a Spanish version of the Assessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (AGHDA) questionnaire through Rasch analysis with a sample of 356 adult patients in Spain. Results suggest that the Spanish AGHDA could be a useful complement of the clinical evaluation of growth hormone deficiency patients at group and…

Evaluated the alternate forms reliability of new versus old tasks of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) (A. Fisher, 1993). Participants were 44 persons from the AMPS database. Results support good alternate forms reliability of the motor and process ability measures and suggest that the newly calibrated tasks can be used reliably in…

Developed an instrument to measure invasive plant environmentalism (knowledge and attitudes concerning non-native plant invasions). Scaled responses of 237 plant nursery customers to a 17-item standardized interview using the partial credit model. Results indicate that the instrument measured the construct of invasive plant environmentalism…

Re-examined the 13-year lifespan study of moral and evaluative reasoning conducted by C. Armon, who interviewed 23 females and 19 males ranging in age from 5 at first test time (1977) to 86 at the fourth interview (1989). Rasch analysis of Armon's data show that the measures used tap a single underlying dimension of reasoning. Discusses results…

Describes the source instrument, the database, and the experimental methodology that have been used in developing the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) profiles to allow the comparison of quality of life findings from a variety of cultural settings. Illustrates the precautions necessary in interpreting scores from different…

Developed a questionnaire of 80 self-report items to measure student approaches to study in higher education, attempting to create a scale and study it with a Rasch measurement model. Results for 350 Australian college students supported the conceptual structure of the scale as involving studying attitudes and behaviors toward the identified five…