The Impact of Ignoring Multilevel Data Structure on the Estimation of Dichotomous Item Response Theory Models

Authors : Hyung Rock LEE, Sunbok LEE, Jaeyun SUNG

Pages : 92-108

Doi:10.21449/ijate.523586

View : 14 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2019-03-21

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Applying single-level statistical models to multilevel data typically produces underestimated standard errors, which may result in misleading conclusions. This study examined the impact of ignoring multilevel data structure on the estimation of item parameters and their standard errors of the Rasch, two-, and three- parameter logistic models in item response theory insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IRT); to demonstrate the degree of such underestimation in IRT. Also, the Lord’s chi-square test using the underestimated standard errors was used to test differential item functioning insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DIF); to show the impact of such underestimation on the practical applications of IRT. The results of simulation studies showed that, in the most severe case of multilevel data, the standard error estimate from the standard single-level IRT models was about half of the minimal asymptotic standard error, and the type I error rate of the Lord’s chi-square test was inflated up to .35. The results of this study suggest that standard single-level IRT models may seriously mislead our conclusions in the presence of multilevel data, and therefore multilevel IRT models need to be considered as alternatives.
Keywords : Item Response Theory, Rasch, Multilevel Data, Monte Carlo Simulation