Volume 18, Issue 2
Series on Upgrading Methodology in Clinical Psychology. Item Response Theory. Basic concepts and application to the measuring of psychological constructs
Abstract
This study sets out to introduce the reader to the basic notions of the Item Response Theory (IRT). The First Part outlines the limitations of the classical perspective and defines IRT fundamental concepts: Item Characteristic Curve, Parameters, Information Function, Estimation and Models Fit. The Second Part examines the developments applied on the basis of the latest advances in this theory. Topics such as the Differential Item functioning as well as the construction of Item Banks and Computerized Adaptive Tests are also enlarged upon. It has been concluded and acknowledged that there is a need for a more solid background in the IRT among the specialists in Psychological Assessment in Argentina.
Keywords
item response theory, psychometrics, psychometric models