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A New Interpretation of Stochastic Test Models

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Hans Colonius
Hans Colonius*
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Braunschweig
*
Requests for reprints should be sent to Hans Colonius, Technische Universität Braurtschweig, Spielmannstrasse 19, D-3300 Braunschweig, Federal Republic of Germany.
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Abstract

A new look at latent trait models is proposed. The event of an item being solved by a person is related to the event that the momentary value of a person-specific random component is at least as large as the corresponding value of an item-specific random component. The Birnbaum logistic test model is shown to be generated by a bivariate extreme value distribution for the components. Some consequences of this interpretation are outlined.

Keywords

logistic test modelextreme value distributionitem discriminating power
Type
Notes And Comments
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 46 , Issue 2 , June 1981 , pp. 223 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

I am indebted to David Strauss for calling the extreme value distribution (1) to my attention in a random utility context. The paper also benefited from discussions with H. C. Micko, H. H. Schulze and K. F. Wender.

References

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