Information structure for geometric analogies: A test theory approach

Abstract

Although geometric analogies are popular items for measuring intelligence, the information processes that are involved in their solution have not been studied in a test theory context. In the current study, processing is examined by testing alternative models of information structure on geometric analogies. In contrast to the treatment of models in other studies that have appeared in the cognitive literature, the models are tested jointly as mathematical models of processing and as latent trait models of individual differences. The joint modeling was achieved by applying the one-parameter linear logistic latent trait model to predict response accuracy from information structure. The results supported the model that distinguished between spatial distortion and spatial displacement transformations, which have opposite effects on item difficulty. Further, no significant sex difference in overall accuracy or processing were observed. Implications of the results for processing mechanisms and test design are discussed.