Psychometric Models in <code>irt</code> Package

# Psychometric Models in `irt` Package

## Emre Gönülateş

### 2024-02-20

This vignettes covers the psychometric models that are implemented in the `irt` package.

# Item Models

Name | Description | Parameters
--- | --- | ---
Rasch | Rasch Model | b
1PL | One-Parameter Logistic Model | b, D
2PL | Two-Parameter Logistic Model | a, b, D
3PL | Three-Parameter Logistic Model | a, b, c, D
4PL | Four-Parameter Logistic Model | a, b, c, d, D
GRM | Graded Response Model | a, b, D
PCM | Partial Credit Model | b
GPCM | Generalized Partial Credit Model | a, b, D
GPCM2 | Reparameterized Generalized Partial Credit Model | a, b, d, D

## Rasch Model

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of correct response to an item \(j\) is:

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = 1 | \theta_i;b_j\right) = \frac{e^{(\theta_i - b_j)}}{1 + e^{(\theta_i - b_j)}} $$

where , \(b_j\) is the item difficulty (or threshold) of item \(j\).

User needs to specify only the item difficulty parameter:

    library(irt)

    itm_rasch <- item(b = -1.29)
    itm_rasch
    #> A 'Rasch' item.
    #> Model:   Rasch (Rasch Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   b = -1.29
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = -.65\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_rasch, theta = -0.65)
    #>              0         1
    #> [1,] 0.3452465 0.6547535

The item characteristic curve of this item is:

    plot(itm_rasch)

## One-Parameter Logistic Model

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of correct response to an item \(j\) is:

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = 1 | \theta_i;b_j\right) = \frac{e^{D(\theta_i - b_j)}}{1 + e^{D(\theta_i - b_j)}} $$

where , \(b_j\) is the item difficulty (or threshold) of item \(j\). D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1).

User needs to specify the following parameters:

    itm_1pl <- item(b = 0.83, D = 1)
    itm_1pl
    #> A '1PL' item.
    #> Model:   1PL (One-Parameter Logistic Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   b = 0.83
    #>   D = 1
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = .73\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_1pl, theta = 0.73)
    #>              0         1
    #> [1,] 0.5249792 0.4750208

The item characteristic curve of this item is:

    plot(itm_1pl)

## Two-Parameter Logistic Model

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of correct response to an item \(j\) is:

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = 1 | \theta_i;a_j, b_j\right) = \frac{e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}}{1 + e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_j\) is the item difficulty (or threshold). D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1).

User needs to specify all of the parameter values:

    itm_2pl <- item(a = .94, b = -1.302, D = 1)
    itm_2pl
    #> A '2PL' item.
    #> Model:   2PL (Two-Parameter Logistic Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 0.94
    #>   b = -1.302
    #>   D = 1
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = -0.53\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_2pl, theta = -0.53)
    #>              0         1
    #> [1,] 0.3261434 0.6738566

The item characteristic curve of this item is:

    plot(itm_2pl)

## Three-Parameter Logistic Model

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of correct response to an item \(j\) is:

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = 1 | \theta_i;a_j, b_j, c_j\right) = c_j + (1 - c_j)\frac{e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}}{1 + e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_j\) is the item difficulty (or threshold), and \(c_j\) is the lower asymptote (or pseudo-guessing) value. D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1).

As can be seen from the equation above, the user needs to specify all of the parameter values:

    itm_3pl <- item(a = 1.51, b = 2.04, c = .16, D = 1.7)
    itm_3pl
    #> A '3PL' item.
    #> Model:   3PL (Three-Parameter Logistic Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 1.51
    #>   b = 2.04
    #>   c = 0.16
    #>   D = 1.7
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = 1.5\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_3pl, theta = 1.5)
    #>              0         1
    #> [1,] 0.6719846 0.3280154

The item characteristic curve of this item:

    plot(itm_3pl)

## Four-Parameter Logistic Model

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of correct response to an item \(j\) is:

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = 1 | \theta_i;a_j, b_j, c_j, d_j\right) = c_j + (d_j - c_j)\frac{e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}}{1 + e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_j)}} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_j\) is the item difficulty (or threshold), \(c_j\) is the lower asymptote (or pseudo-guessing) value and \(d_j\) is the upper asymptote. D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1).

As can be seen from the equation above, the user needs to specify all of the parameter values:

    itm_4pl <- item(a = 1.2, b = -.74, c = .22, d = .99, D = 1.7)
    itm_4pl
    #> A '4PL' item.
    #> Model:   4PL (Four-Parameter Logistic Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 1.2
    #>   b = -0.74
    #>   c = 0.22
    #>   d = 0.99
    #>   D = 1.7
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = 1.2\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_4pl, theta = 1.2)
    #>               0        1
    #> [1,] 0.02443797 0.975562

The item characteristic curve of this item is:

    plot(itm_4pl)

## Graded Response Model (GRM)

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of responding at or above the category \(k\) to an item \(j\) with possible scores \(k = 0, 1, \ldots, m_j\):

`wB$$P^*\left(X_{ij} = k | \theta_i;a_j, b_j\right) = \frac{e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_{jk})} }{1 + e^{Da_j(\theta_i - b_{jk})}} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_{jk}\) is the threshold parameter. Note that the probability of responding at or above the lowest category is \(P^*\left(X_{ij} = 0\right) = 1\). Responding at a category \(k\) can be calculated as:

$$P(X_{ij}=k|\theta_i) = P^*(X_{ij} = k) - P^*(X_{ij} = k+1)$$

The user needs to specify the following parameter values:

    itm_grm <- item(a = 0.84, b = c(-1, -.2, .75, 1.78), D = 1.7, model = "GRM")
    itm_grm
    #> A 'GRM' item.
    #> Model:   GRM (Graded Response Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 0.84
    #>   b = -1;  -0.2;  0.75;  1.78
    #>   D = 1.7
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = 1.13\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_grm, theta = 1.13)
    #>               0          1         2         3       4
    #> [1,] 0.04557977 0.08461474 0.2373791 0.3491363 0.28329

The option characteristic curves of this item is:

    plot(itm_grm)

## Generalized Partial Credit Model (GPCM)

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of a response \(k\) to an item \(j\) with possible scores \(k = 0, 1, \ldots, m_j\):

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = k | \theta_i;a_j, b_j\right) = \frac{\text{exp} \left( \sum_{v = 0}^{k}Da_j(\theta_i - b_{jv}) \right) } {{\sum_{h = 0}^{m_j} \text{exp} \left[ \sum_{v = 0}^{h} Da_j(\theta_i - b_{jv}) \right] }} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_{jv}\) are the step difficulty parameters. Note that \(b_{jv}\) values are not necessarily ordered from smallest to the largest. D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1). \(\sum_{v = 0}^0 Da_j(\theta_i - b_{jv}) = 0\).

The user needs to specify the following parameter values:

    itm_gpcm <- item(a = 1.1, b = c(-.74, .3, .91, 2.19), D = 1.7, model = "GPCM")
    itm_gpcm
    #> A 'GPCM' item.
    #> Model:   GPCM (Generalized Partial Credit Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 1.1
    #>   b = -0.74;  0.3;  0.91;  2.19
    #>   D = 1.7
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = -0.53\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_gpcm, theta = -0.53)
    #>              0         1         2           3            4
    #> [1,] 0.3551121 0.5259117 0.1113895 0.007540084 4.659945e-05

The option characteristic curves of this item is:

    plot(itm_gpcm)

## Partial Credit Model (PCM)

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of a
response \(k\) to an item \(j\) with possible scores \(k = 0, 1, \ldots, m_j\):

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = k | \theta_i;b_j\right) = \frac{\text{exp} \left( \sum_{v = 0}^{k}(\theta_i - b_{jv}) \right) } {{\sum_{h = 0}^{m_j} \text{exp} \left[ \sum_{v = 0}^{h} (\theta_i - b_{jv}) \right] }} $$

where \(b_{jv}\) are the step difficulty parameters. \(\sum_{v = 0}^0 (\theta_i - b_{jv}) = 0\).

The user needs to specify the following parameter values:

    itm_pcm <- item(b = c(-1.38, -.18, 1.1), model = "PCM")
    itm_pcm
    #> A 'PCM' item.
    #> Model:   PCM (Partial Credit Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   b = -1.38;  -0.18;  1.1
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta = -1.09\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_pcm, theta = -1.09)
    #>              0         1         2          3
    #> [1,] 0.3407646 0.4554072 0.1833124 0.02051573

The option characteristic curves of this item is:

    plot(itm_pcm)

## Reparameterized Generalized Partial Credit Model (GPCM2)

For an examinee \(i\) with ability \(\theta_i\), the probability of a response \(k\) to an item \(j\) with possible scores \(k = 0, 1, \ldots, m_j\):

`wB$$P\left(X_{ij} = k | \theta_i;a_j, b_j, d_j\right) = \frac{\text{exp} \left( \sum_{v = 0}^{k}Da_j(\theta_i - b_j + d_{jv}) \right) } {{\sum_{h = 0}^{m_j} \text{exp} \left[ \sum_{v = 0}^{h} Da_j(\theta_i - b_j + d_{jv}) \right] }} $$

where \(a_j\) is the item discrimination (or slope) of item \(j\), \(b_j\) is the overall location parameter and \(d_{jv}\) are the threshold parameters. D is the scaling constant (the default value is 1).

The user needs to specify the following parameter values:

    itm_gpcm2 <- item(a = .71, b = .37, d = c(-.18, .11, 1.29), D = 1,
                      model = "GPCM2")
    itm_gpcm2
    #> A 'GPCM2' item.
    #> Model:   GPCM2 (Reparameterized Generalized Partial Credit Model)
    #> Model Parameters:
    #>   a = 0.71
    #>   b = 0.37
    #>   d = -0.18;  0.11;  1.29
    #>   D = 1
    #>
    #> --------------------------

The probability of each response option at \(\theta 1.3\) is:

    prob(ip = itm_gpcm2, theta = 1.3)
    #>               0          1       2         3
    #> [1,] 0.04254421 0.07246065 0.15163 0.7333651

The option characteristic curves of this item is:

    plot(itm_gpcm2)