ERIC Number: EJ1160308
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1530-5058
EISSN: N/A
Challenges to the Use of Artificial Neural Networks for Diagnostic Classifications with Student Test Data
Briggs, Derek C.; Circi, Ruhan
International Journal of Testing, v17 n4 p302-321 2017
Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been proposed as a promising approach for the classification of students into different levels of a psychological attribute hierarchy. Unfortunately, because such classifications typically rely upon internally produced item response patterns that have not been externally validated, the instability of ANN estimates of attribute probabilities may not be widely appreciated. The present study illustrates the problem with both empirical and simulated data. In particular, it is shown that when an ANN is "trained" multiple times using the same data, attribute probability estimates can vary, sometimes dramatically. Researchers hoping to apply ANNs in the context of diagnostic classification models with student test data need to be very deliberate in checking the sensitivity of their findings.
Descriptors: Artificial Intelligence, Classification, Student Evaluation, Tests, Evaluation Methods, Multiple Choice Tests, Science Tests, Scientific Concepts, Physics, Responses, Prediction, Probability, High School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iowa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A