Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch: A comparison of their methods of scaling psychological and educational tests

Engelhard, George, Jr.
1984
Thumbnail Image

View/Download File

v08n1p021.pdf (1.95 MB)

Persistent link to this item

https://hdl.handle.net/11299/101871
Statistics
View Statistics

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Title

Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch: A comparison of their methods of scaling psychological and educational tests

Authors

Published Date

1984

Publisher

Type

Article

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the methods used by Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch for calibrating test items. Thorndike and Thurstone represent a traditional psychometric approach to this problem, whereas Rasch represents a more modem conceptualization derived from latent trait theory. These three major theorists in psychological and educational measurement were concerned with a common set of issues that seem to recur in a cyclical manner in psychometric theory. One such issue involves the invariance of item parameters. Each recognized the importance of eliminating the effects of an arbitrary sample in the estimation of item parameters. The differences generally arise from the specific methods chosen to deal with the problem. Thorndike attempted to solve the problem of item invariance by adjusting for mean differences in ability distributions. Thurstone extended Thorndike’s work by proposing two adjustments which included an adjustment for differences in the dispersions of ability in addition to Thorndike’s adjustment for mean differences. Rasch’s method implies a third adjustment, which involves the addition of a response model for each person in the sample. Data taken from Trabue (1916) are used to illustrate and compare how Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch would approach a common problem, namely, the calibration of a single set of items administered to several groups.

Keywords

Description

Related to

Replaces

License

Collections

Applied Psychological Measurement, Volume 08, 1984

Series/Report Number

Funding information

Isbn identifier

Doi identifier

Previously Published Citation

Engelhard, George. (1984). Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch: A comparison of their methods of scaling psychological and educational tests. Applied Psychological Measurement, 8, 21-38. doi:10.1177/014662168400800104

Suggested citation

Engelhard, George, Jr.. (1984). Thorndike, Thurstone, and Rasch: A comparison of their methods of scaling psychological and educational tests. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/101871.

Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.