The Wandering Ideal Point Model for Analyzing Paired Comparisons Data

A recently developed probabilistic multidimensional unfolding model for paired comparisons data is described. Unlike the stochastic multidimensional unfolding models previously proposed in the literature, the present model is a moderate utility model. After presenting the model in its most general form, some properties and special cases are discussed. Subsequently, some practical issues related to applying the model, such as parameter estimating and model testing, are addressed. Finally, an illustrative application is reported.