A method for severely constrained item selection in adapative testing

Abstract

Previous attempts at incorporating expert test construction practices into computerized adaptive testing paradigms are described. A new method is presented for incorporating a large number of constraints on adaptive item selection. The methodology emulates the test construction practices of expert test specialists, which is a necessity if computerized adaptive testing is to compete with conventional tests. Two examples-one for a verbal measure and the other for a quantitative measure- are provided of the successful use of the proposed method in designing adaptive tests. Index terms: adaptive test design, computerized adaptive testing, constrained adaptive testing, expert systems, test assembly algorithms.