TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding item parameters in personality scales
T2 - An explanatory item response modeling approach
AU - Min, Hanyi
AU - Zickar, Michael
AU - Yankov, Georgi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - Although item parameters are essential in psychometric frameworks, such as item response theory (IRT), few theories are available to guide their psychological interpretation. Moreover, the meaning of item parameters is generally harder to interpret for personality scales than for ability scales. The current study provides a comprehensive way to interpret personality item parameters, Generalized Linear and Nonlinear Models (GLNMMs). The GLNMMs model the effect of item features on psychometric properties, such as item discrimination and item location. Distinct from previous studies which use a two-step approach, the GLNMMs produce smaller standard errors of item features' coefficients, and allow examination of person covariates. The current study examines four item features – negative wording, subtlety, social desirability, and miscomprehension. In general, item discrimination negatively correlated with item subtlety, social desirability, and miscomprehension; item easiness positively correlated with subtlety and miscomprehension, and negatively correlated with negative wording.
AB - Although item parameters are essential in psychometric frameworks, such as item response theory (IRT), few theories are available to guide their psychological interpretation. Moreover, the meaning of item parameters is generally harder to interpret for personality scales than for ability scales. The current study provides a comprehensive way to interpret personality item parameters, Generalized Linear and Nonlinear Models (GLNMMs). The GLNMMs model the effect of item features on psychometric properties, such as item discrimination and item location. Distinct from previous studies which use a two-step approach, the GLNMMs produce smaller standard errors of item features' coefficients, and allow examination of person covariates. The current study examines four item features – negative wording, subtlety, social desirability, and miscomprehension. In general, item discrimination negatively correlated with item subtlety, social desirability, and miscomprehension; item easiness positively correlated with subtlety and miscomprehension, and negatively correlated with negative wording.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2018.02.012
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2018.02.012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85044360898
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 128
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
ER -