Statistics Colloquium

Location

Mathematics/Psychology : 103

Date & Time

October 24, 2014, 11:00 am12:00 pm

Description

Speaker
Dr. Gary Skaggs
Associate Professor
Educational Research and Evaluation Program
Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Title
Statistics in Psychometrics: The Curious Case of the Bookmark Standard Setting Method


Abstract
In this talk, I will first present some of the core ideas of item response theory (IRT), a theory to scale and score tests that measure educational and psychological latent variables, or constructs. Then, I will show how IRT can be applied to the task of setting a performance standard on a test. Setting performance standards has become commonplace in educational achievement testing. I will demonstrate a standard setting method, called the bookmark method, that is based on an IRT model of the testing process. I will conclude the talk with a brief discussion of research results and continuing research on the bookmark method.