Binary Restrictive Threshold Method for Item Exposure Control in Cognitive Diagnostic Computerized Adaptive Testing.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Sun X
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8374050 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Cognitive diagnosis has emerged as a new generation of testing theory for educational assessment after the item response theory (IRT). One distinct feature of cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs) is that they assume the latent trait to be discrete instead of continuous as in IRT. From this perspective, cognitive diagnosis bears a close resemblance to searching problems in computer science and, similarly, item selection problem in cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing (CD-CAT) can be considered as a dynamic searching problem. Previously, item selection algorithms in CD-CAT were developed from information indices in information science and attempted to achieve a balance among several objectives by assigning different weights. As a result, they suffered from low efficiency from a tug-of-war competition among multiple goals in item selection and, at the same time, put an undue responsibility of assigning the weights for these goals by trial and error on users. Based on the searching problem perspective on CD-CAT, this article adapts the binary searching algorithm, one of the most well-known searching algorithms in searching problems, to item selection in CD-CAT. The two new methods, the stratified dynamic binary searching (SDBS) algorithm for fixed-length CD-CAT and the dynamic binary searching (DBS) algorithm for variable-length CD-CAT, can achieve multiple goals without any of the aforementioned issues. The simulation studies indicate their performances are comparable or superior to the previous methods.
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Project description:Cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing (CD-CAT) aims to obtain more useful diagnostic information by taking advantages of computerized adaptive testing (CAT). Cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) have been developed to classify examinees into the correct proficiency classes so as to get more efficient remediation, whereas CAT tailors optimal items to the examinee's mastery profile. The item selection method is the key factor of the CD-CAT procedure. In recent years, a large number of parametric/nonparametric item selection methods have been proposed. In this article, the authors proposed a series of stratified item selection methods in CD-CAT, which are combined with posterior-weighted Kullback-Leibler (PWKL), nonparametric item selection (NPS), and weighted nonparametric item selection (WNPS) methods, and named S-PWKL, S-NPS, and S-WNPS, respectively. Two different types of stratification indices were used: original versus novel. The performances of the proposed item selection methods were evaluated via simulation studies and compared with the PWKL, NPS, and WNPS methods without stratification. Manipulated conditions included calibration sample size, item quality, number of attributes, number of strata, and data generation models. Results indicated that the S-WNPS and S-NPS methods performed similarly, and both outperformed the S-PWKL method. And item selection methods with novel stratification indices performed slightly better than the ones with original stratification indices, and those without stratification performed the worst.
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Project description:Most computerized adaptive testing (CAT) programs do not allow item review due to a decrease in estimation precision and aberrant manipulation strategies. In this article, a block item pocket (BIP) method that combines the item pocket method with the successive block method to realize reviewable CAT was proposed. A worst-case but still reasonable answering strategy and the Wainer-like manipulation strategy were simulated to evaluate the estimation precision of reviewable unidimensional computerized adaptive testing (UCAT) and multidimensional computerized adaptive testing (MCAT) under a series of BIP settings. For both UCAT and MCAT, it was found that the estimation precision of the BIP method improved as the number of blocks increased or the item pocket size decreased under the reasonable strategy. The BIP method was more effective in handling the Wainer-like strategy. With the help of block design, the BIP method can still maintain acceptable estimation precision under slightly large total IP size conditions. These results suggested that the BIP method was a reliable solution for both reviewable UCAT and MCAT.
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Project description:Currently, there are two predominant approaches in adaptive testing. One, referred to as cognitive diagnosis computerized adaptive testing (CD-CAT), is based on cognitive diagnosis models, and the other, the traditional CAT, is based on item response theory. The present study evaluates the performance of two item selection rules (ISRs) originally developed in the CD-CAT framework, the double Kullback-Leibler information (DKL) and the generalized deterministic inputs, noisy "and" gate model discrimination index (GDI), in the context of traditional CAT. The accuracy and test security associated with these two ISRs are compared to those of the point Fisher information and weighted KL using a simulation study. The impact of the trait level estimation method is also investigated. The results show that the new ISRs, particularly DKL, could be used to improve the accuracy of CAT. Better accuracy for DKL is achieved at the expense of higher item overlap rate. Differences among the item selection rules become smaller as the test gets longer. The two CD-CAT ISRs select different types of items: items with the highest possible a parameter with DKL, and items with the lowest possible c parameter with GDI. Regarding the trait level estimator, expected a posteriori method is generally better in the first stages of the CAT, and converges with the maximum likelihood method when a medium to large number of items are involved. The use of DKL can be recommended in low-stakes settings where test security is less of a concern.
| S-EPMC6953845 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We propose a new method that balances attribute coverage for short-length cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing (CD-CAT). The new method uses the attribute discrimination index (ADI-based method) instead of the number of items that measure each attribute [modified global discrimination index (MGDI)-based method] to balance the attribute coverage. Therefore, the information that each attribute provides can be captured. The purpose of the simulation study was to evaluate the performance of the new method, and the results showed the following: (a) Compared with uncontrolled attribute-balance coverage method, the new method produced a higher mastery pattern correct classification rate (PCCR) and attribute correct classification rate (ACCR) with both the posterior-weighted Kullback-Leibler (PWKL) and the modified PWKL (MPWKL) item selection method. (b) Equalization of ACCR (E-ACCR) based on the ADI-based method leads to better results, followed by the MGDI-based method. The uncontrolled method leads to the worst results regardless of item selection methods. (c) Both the ADI-based and MGDI-based methods produced acceptable examinee qualification rates, regardless of item selection methods, although they were relatively low for the uncontrolled condition.
| S-EPMC7059599 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) greatly improves measurement efficiency in high-stakes testing operations through the selection and administration of test items with the difficulty level that is most relevant to each individual test taker. This paper explains the 3 components of a conventional CAT item selection algorithm: test content balancing, the item selection criterion, and item exposure control. Several noteworthy methodologies underlie each component. The test script method and constrained CAT method are used for test content balancing. Item selection criteria include the maximized Fisher information criterion, the b-matching method, the a-stratification method, the weighted likelihood information criterion, the efficiency balanced information criterion, and the Kullback-Leibler information criterion. The randomesque method, the Sympson-Hetter method, the unconditional and conditional multinomial methods, and the fade-away method are used for item exposure control. Several holistic approaches to CAT use automated test assembly methods, such as the shadow test approach and the weighted deviation model. Item usage and exposure count vary depending on the item selection criterion and exposure control method. Finally, other important factors to consider when determining an appropriate CAT design are the computer resources requirement, the size of item pools, and the test length. The logic of CAT is now being adopted in the field of adaptive learning, which integrates the learning aspect and the (formative) assessment aspect of education into a continuous, individualized learning experience. Therefore, the algorithms and technologies described in this review may be able to help medical health educators and high-stakes test developers to adopt CAT more actively and efficiently.
| S-EPMC5968224 | biostudies-literature
Project description:When computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is under stringent item exposure control, the precision of trait estimation will substantially decrease. A new item selection method, the dynamic Stratification method based on Dominance Curves (SDC), which is aimed at improving trait estimation, is proposed to mitigate this problem. The objective function of the SDC in item selection is to maximize the sum of test information for all examinees rather than maximizing item information for individual examinees at a single-item administration, as in conventional CAT. To achieve this objective, the SDC uses dominance curves to stratify an item pool into strata with the number being equal to the test length to precisely and accurately increase the quality of the administered items as the test progresses, reducing the likelihood that a high-discrimination item will be administered to an examinee whose ability is not close to the item difficulty. Furthermore, the SDC incorporates a dynamic process for on-the-fly item-stratum adjustment to optimize the use of quality items. Simulation studies were conducted to investigate the performance of the SDC in CAT under item exposure control at different levels of severity. According to the results, the SDC can efficiently improve trait estimation in CAT through greater precision and more accurate trait estimation than those generated by other methods (e.g., the maximum Fisher information method) in most conditions.
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Project description:BackgroundThe European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group is developing computerized adaptive testing (CAT) versions of each scale of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). This study aims to develop an item bank for the EORTC QLQ-C30 cognitive functioning scale, which can be used for CAT.MethodsThe complete developmental approach comprised four phases: (I) conceptualization and literature search, (II) operationalization, (III) pretesting, and (IV) field-testing. This paper describes phases I-III.I) A literature search was performed to identify self-report instruments and items measuring cognitive complaints on concentration and memory. II) A multistep item-selection procedure was applied to select and generate items that were relevant and compatible with the 'QLQ-C30 item style.' III) Cancer patients from different countries evaluated the item list for wording (ie, whether items were difficult, confusing, annoying, upsetting or intrusive), and whether relevant issues were missing.ResultsA list of 439 items was generated by the literature search. In the multistep item-selection procedure, these items were evaluated for relevance, redundancy, clarity, and response format, resulting in an list of 45 items. A total of 32 patients evaluated this item list in the pretesting phase, resulting in a preliminary list of 44 items.ConclusionPhase I-III resulted in an item list of 44 items measuring self-reported cognitive complaints that was endorsed by international experts and cancer patients in several countries. This list will be evaluated for its psychometric characteristics in phase IV.
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Project description:Current use of multidimensional computerized adaptive testing (MCAT) has been developed in conjunction with compensatory multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models rather than with non-compensatory ones. In recognition of the usefulness of MCAT and the complications associated with non-compensatory data, this study aimed to develop MCAT algorithms using non-compensatory MIRT models and to evaluate their performance. For the purpose of the study, three item selection methods were adapted and compared, namely, the Fisher information method, the mutual information method, and the Kullback-Leibler information method. The results of a series of simulations showed that the Fisher information and mutual information methods performed similarly, and both outperformed the Kullback-Leibler information method. In addition, it was found that the more stringent the termination criterion and the higher the correlation between the latent traits, the higher the resulting measurement precision and test reliability. Test reliability was very similar across the dimensions, regardless of the correlation between the latent traits and termination criterion. On average, the difficulties of the administered items were found to be at a lower level than the examinees' abilities, which shed light on item bank construction for non-compensatory items.
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Project description: Not available
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