Comparing Countdown- and IRT-Based Approaches to Computerized Adaptive Personality Testing.

Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is an emerging technology in the personality assessment literature given the greater efficiency it affords compared with traditional methods. However, few studies have directly compared the efficiency and validity of 2 competing methods for personality CAT: (a) me...

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Published in:Psychological Assessment Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 769 - 780
Main Authors: Rudick, Monica M., Wern How Yam, Simms, Leonard J.
Format: Article
Published: American Psychological Association Sep2013
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2013
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      pub: American Psychological Association
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        10.1037/a0032541
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        atl: Comparing Countdown- and IRT-Based Approaches to Computerized Adaptive Personality Testing.
      aug:
        au:
          Rudick, Monica M.
          Wern How Yam
          Simms, Leonard J.
        affil: University at Buffalo, State University of New York
      su:
        Item response theory
        Psychometrics
        Computer adaptive testing
        Personality assessment research
        Psychodiagnostics
      sug:
        subj:
          Item response theory
          Psychometrics
          Computer adaptive testing
          Personality assessment research
          Psychodiagnostics
      keyword:
        computerized adaptive testing
        countdown method
        item response theory
        personality assessment
        Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality
        computerized adaptive testing
        countdown method
        item response theory
        personality assessment
        Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality
      ab: Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is an emerging technology in the personality assessment literature given the greater efficiency it affords compared with traditional methods. However, few studies have directly compared the efficiency and validity of 2 competing methods for personality CAT: (a) methods based on item response theory (IRT-CAT) versus (b) methods based on the countdown method (CM-CAT). To that end, we conducted real-data simulations with previously collected responses (N = 8,690) to the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP). Three CAT algorithms (IRT-CAT, IRT-CAT with 5-item minimum, CM-CAT) were evaluated for item savings, classification accuracy, and convergent/discriminant validity. All CATs yielded lower classification accuracy and validity than traditional testing but required 18%-86% fewer items. Ultimately, the IRT-CAT, with minimum 5-item requirement, struck the most ideal balance of highest item savings, and generally fewer costs to validity and accuracy. These results confirm findings regarding item savings trends from previous CAT studies. In addition, this study provides a model for how the validity and precision of CATs may be compared across personality assessments.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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