Dataset Information

The application of item response theory on a teaching strategy profile questionnaire.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In medical education research, various questionnaires are often used to study possible relationships between strategies and approaches to teaching and learning and the outcome of these. However, judging the applicability of such questionnaires or the interpretation of the results is not trivial.

Methods

As a way to develop teacher thinking, teaching strategy profiles were calculated for teachers in a research intensive department at Karolinska Institutet. This study compares the sum score, that was inherent in the questionnaire used, with an Item Response Theory (IRT) approach. Three teaching dimensions were investigated and the intended sum scores were investigated by IRT analysis.

Results

Agreements as well as important differences were found. The use of the sum score seemed to agree reasonably with an IRT approach for two of the dimensions, while the third dimension could not be identified neither by a the sum score, nor by an IRT approach, as the items included showed conflicting messages.

Conclusions

This study emphasizes the possibilities to gain better insight and more relevant interpretation of a questionnaire by use of IRT. A sum score approach should not be taken for granted. Its use has to be thoroughly evaluated.

SUBMITTER: Brodin U

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2830224 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The application of item response theory on a teaching strategy profile questionnaire.

Brodin Ulf U Fors Uno U Laksov Klara B KB

BMC medical education 20100210

<h4>Background</h4>In medical education research, various questionnaires are often used to study possible relationships between strategies and approaches to teaching and learning and the outcome of these. However, judging the applicability of such questionnaires or the interpretation of the results is not trivial.<h4>Methods</h4>As a way to develop teacher thinking, teaching strategy profiles were calculated for teachers in a research intensive department at Karolinska Institutet. This study com ...[more]

PMID: 20146802

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Project description:PURPOSE:The association of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is rarely studied globally. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the EORTC-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL17 [phase III]) module, a newly developed assessment on CLL patients' HRQoL, among Chinese CLL patients. METHODS:The Chinese CLL17, comprised of three subscales (symptom burden [SB], physical condition [PC] and worries/fears [WF]), was provided by the developer team through EORTC. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to collect data. The classical traditional theory (CTT) and the item response theory (IRT) were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of CLL17. Internal consistency reliability was determined by the Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation. Dimensionality was verified through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was also assessed. The generalized partial credit model was used for the IRT. The difficulty, discrimination, item fit, and differential item functioning (DIF) were calculated to assess the instrument's psychometric properties. RESULTS:In all, 318 patients, aged between 26 and 82 years, completed the questionnaire. A good level of internal reliability was achieved (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). The item-total correlation coefficient ranged from 0.46 to 0.72. There was a mid-to-high correlation between CLL17 and domains of EQ-5D and QLQ-C30. The IRT model showed a satisfactory homogeneity, item fit and good discrimination of items, except for item 4, 6 and 16 (< 1.0). low information provided by item 16 and 17. SB and PC provided more information with theta > 0, whereas WF provided more information with theta < 0. Item 17 perform inconsistently for respondents from different age groups (DIF). CONCLUSION:The EORTC-CLL17 Chinese version shows acceptable reliability and validity, making it a valuable instrument to evaluate the impact on the HRQoL of Chinese CLL patients.

Project description:Allostatic load is commonly operationalized using a sum-score of high-risk biomarkers. However, this method implies that biomarkers contribute equally to allostatic load, as each is given equal weight. Our goal in this methodological paper is to evaluate this, and complementarily, to identify biomarkers that are most informative and least informative for developing an allostatic load index. Item response theory models provide an alternate approach to calculating the allostatic load score, by treating individual biomarkers (e.g. “items”) as indicators of a latent allostatic load construct. Item response theory scores account for the data-driven discriminating power of each biomarker, and an individual’s pattern of biomarker responses. To demonstrate feasibility of this approach, we used data from the 2015–2016 National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey (NHANES; N = 3751), with twelve allostatic load biomarkers representing immune response, metabolic function and cardiovascular health. Item response theory models revealed that body-mass-index and C-reactive protein were the most informative biomarkers for allostatic load. Both higher allostatic load sum-score and allostatic load item response theory score were associated with lower socio-economic status (p = 0.008; p<0.001, respectively). Further, both formulations of allostatic load were positively associated with a nine-item depression screener (p<0.001 for both), but only the item response theory score was also positively associated with the impact of depressive symptoms on daily life (p = 0.045). Item response theory scores may be more finely tuned to tease out effects, compared to sum-scores, and also provide more flexibility when there are missing biomarker measurements. Supplemental R code for our approach are included. Highlights • Methodological paper to introduce item response theory for calculating allostatic load.• Biomarker data from NHANES 2015–2016 representative of United States adults.• Body-mass-index and C-reactive protein most informative for allostatic load.• Item response theory captures more variability in allostatic load compared to sum-scores.• Future work - item response theory can standardize allostatic load across datasets.

Dataset Information

The application of item response theory on a teaching strategy profile questionnaire.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The application of item response theory on a teaching strategy profile questionnaire.

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