TitleMathematical-programming approaches to test item pool design
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsVeldkamp, BP, van der Linden, WJ, Ariel, A
Document NumberRR 02-09
Pagination93-108
InstitutionUniversity of Twente, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology
CityTwente, The Netherlands
ISBN Number02-09
KeywordsAdaptive Testing, Computer Assisted, Computer Programming, Educational Measurement, Item Response Theory, Mathematics, Psychometrics, Statistical Rotation computerized adaptive testing, Test Items, Testing
Abstract

(From the chapter) This paper presents an approach to item pool design that has the potential to improve on the quality of current item pools in educational and psychological testing and hence to increase both measurement precision and validity. The approach consists of the application of mathematical programming techniques to calculate optimal blueprints for item pools. These blueprints can be used to guide the item-writing process. Three different types of design problems are discussed, namely for item pools for linear tests, item pools computerized adaptive testing (CAT), and systems of rotating item pools for CAT. The paper concludes with an empirical example of the problem of designing a system of rotating item pools for CAT.