Dataset Information

Testing the Local Independence Assumption of the Rasch Model With Q 3-Based Nonparametric Model Tests.

ABSTRACT: Local independence is a central assumption of commonly used item response theory models. Violations of this assumption are usually tested using test statistics based on item pairs. This study presents two quasi-exact tests based on the Q3 statistic for testing the hypothesis of local independence in the Rasch model. The proposed tests do not require the estimation of item parameters and can also be applied to small data sets. The authors evaluate the tests with three simulation studies. Their results indicate that the quasi-exact tests hold their alpha level under the Rasch model and have higher power against different forms of local dependence than several alternative parametric and nonparametric model tests for local independence.

SUBMITTER: Debelak R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003184 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Testing the Local Independence Assumption of the Rasch Model With <i>Q</i> <sub>3</sub>-Based Nonparametric Model Tests.

Debelak Rudolf R Koller Ingrid I

Applied psychological measurement 20190331 2

Local independence is a central assumption of commonly used item response theory models. Violations of this assumption are usually tested using test statistics based on item pairs. This study presents two quasi-exact tests based on the Q 3 statistic for testing the hypothesis of local independence in the Rasch model. The proposed tests do not require the estimation of item parameters and can also be applied to small data sets. The authors evaluate the tests with three simulation studies. Th ...[more]

PMID: 32076355

Similar Datasets

Project description:Studies of animal personality attempt to uncover underlying or "latent" personality traits that explain broad patterns of behaviour, often by applying latent variable statistical models (e.g., factor analysis) to multivariate data sets. Two integral, but infrequently confirmed, assumptions of latent variable models in animal personality are: i) behavioural variables are independent (i.e., uncorrelated) conditional on the latent personality traits they reflect (local independence), and ii) personality traits are associated with behavioural variables in the same way across individuals or groups of individuals (measurement invariance). We tested these assumptions using observations of aggression in four age classes (4-10 months, 10 months-3 years, 3-6 years, over 6 years) of male and female shelter dogs (N = 4,743) in 11 different contexts. A structural equation model supported the hypothesis of two positively correlated personality traits underlying aggression across contexts: aggressiveness towards people and aggressiveness towards dogs (comparative fit index: 0.96; Tucker-Lewis index: 0.95; root mean square error of approximation: 0.03). Aggression across contexts was moderately repeatable (towards people: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.479; towards dogs: ICC = 0.303). However, certain contexts related to aggressiveness towards people (but not dogs) shared significant residual relationships unaccounted for by latent levels of aggressiveness. Furthermore, aggressiveness towards people and dogs in different contexts interacted with sex and age. Thus, sex and age differences in displays of aggression were not simple functions of underlying aggressiveness. Our results illustrate that the robustness of traits in latent variable models must be critically assessed before making conclusions about the effects of, or factors influencing, animal personality. Our findings are of concern because inaccurate "aggressive personality" trait attributions can be costly to dogs, recipients of aggression and society in general.

Dataset Information

Testing the Local Independence Assumption of the Rasch Model With Q 3-Based Nonparametric Model Tests.

Publications

Testing the Local Independence Assumption of the Rasch Model With <i>Q</i> <sub>3</sub>-Based Nonparametric Model Tests.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets