ANNOUNCING AN EXTERNAL STUDY/ONLINE UNIT, JULY 26- NOVEMBER 1, 2004
INTRODUCTION TO RASCH MEASUREMENT AND TRADITIONAL TEST THEORY
Unit Coordinators: Professor David Andrich and Associate Professor
Guanzhong Luo
Enrolment forms can be obtained from Jan Christie:
(email:[log in to unmask])
More information about the course can be obtained from David Andrich:
(email [log in to unmask] )
THE UNIT OF STUDY - BACKGROUND
In the Australian Semester 2, 2004 (July 26 to November 26), a graduate
unit of study introducing Rasch measurement is available in the external
study mode. This mode of study means that the unit can be studied from
anywhere in the world. A discussion group will operate for online
interaction as part of the course.
Students enrolled obtain (i) a set of lecture materials, which includes
hard copy of all of the lectures, (ii) details of the assignments you will
be required to submit, (iii) the necessary reading materials, and (iv) the
Study Guide setting out the steps you will need to follow to successfully
complete the unit.
This unit has been presented in the same period every year from 2000. In
each of 2002 and 2003, over 50 people from many parts of the world took the
opportunity to enrol. Because of the success of the previous presentations,
the course is being offered again this year. See below for a list of the
enrolment formats available to you
FEATURES OF THE UNIT
(i) it begins from first principles,
(ii) exercises at the end of each lecture consolidate the ideas,
(iii) it introduces the Guttman structure as a lead into both traditional
test theory and Rasch measurement,
(iv) it reviews elementary traditional test theory in a way that it
relates to the Rasch models,
(v) it reviews the necessary elementary statistics,
(vi) it studies the dichotomous model and the model for ordered response
categories,
(vii) it studies model fit, including differential item functioning,
(viii) it involves discussion group which permits you to interact with
other students in the class, and
it provides a full version of the interactive, Windows program RUMM for
analysing data. (The use of the program is available throughout the unit)
The RUMM program is a very easy to use interactive program that permits
learning many features of the Rasch measurement model by working around the
program's menus - for example the effects of rescoring any item, deleting
items, studying alternatives in distractors, assessing differential item
functioning, automatic linking of different sets of items, effects of
deleting samples or individuals, taking account of missing data, and so on.
To enhance understanding all of the information is available both
graphically and statistically, including item characteristic curves, person
item maps, etc.,.
WHO SHOULD ENROL
The unit is suitable for people from many social research backgrounds, but
four in particular have been seen to gain most benefit from their
enrolment.
(i) Professionals engaged in assessment and measurement of performance and
attitude, who know traditional test theory and are interested in learning
the principles of modern test theory and Rasch measurement in particular.
(ii) People in education, psychology, health care, health sciences who are
concerned with outcome measurement.
(iii) People who have become familiar with Rasch measurement and item
response theory through professional exposure, but would like to
consolidate their understanding of its first principles.
(iv) Students who are involved in higher degree studies and require
knowledge and evidence of studying educational and psychological
measurement, in particular introduction to traditional and modern test
theory.
THREE METHODS OF ENROLLING
1. As a professional taking the unit as a professional development course.
The only difference between this enrolment and the next two kinds of
enrolment is that in this one no formal assessment and grading is carried
out, although work handed in is marked. Those who have participated
effectively are given a certificate of participation.
2. As a student from a university, other than Murdoch University for which
the student would like credit towards their degree. Students should check
in advance if their university will give them credit for the unit.
3. As a student enrolled at Murdoch University.
For further information regarding costs, timetable, enrolment procedures,
and so on, please contact Jan Christie who will respond to your query and
put you on a mailing list. (email: [log in to unmask] ). The cost of
the unit for enrolment as professional development or from a non-Australian
university is $US700.00. Students from Australian universities may wish to
enrol using the cross institutional enrolment facility.
TOPICS COVERED
Topic 1 Review of measurement and statistics in education and social
science
Topic 2 Reliability and validity
Topic 3 Formalisation of traditional reliability
Topic 4 Calculation of reliability
Topic 5 The Rasch model for dichotomous responses: The simplest latent
trait model:
Topic 6 Separation of person and item parameters
Topic 7 The significance of total scores
Topic 8 Estimating person ability and item difficulty
Topic 9 Fit of the data to the model: general fit.
Topic 10 The Rasch model for ordered response categories: Analysis
of partial credit or rated items
Topic 11 Fit of the data to the model: Differential Item Functioning
(DIF)
Topic 12 (a) A relationship between the reliability of traditional
test theory and Rasch latent trait theory
(b) Linking using the Rasch model
For further information regarding costs, timetable, enrolment procedures,
or any other queries, please contact Jan Christie ([log in to unmask]
) using the SUBJECT: "RaschOnLine2004S2"
Examples of positive responses to the Unit in 2002.
This is by far one of the best courses on measurement theory I have ever
enrolled in!
Despite it being a distance course, I learned a great deal.
Both unit materials and assignments allowed me to learn the essential
aspects of the subject.
The lecture materials were well organised, logical, and easy to follow.
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