Dichotomous decisions based on dichotomously scored items: a case study

Mellenbergh, G.J. and Koppelaar, H. and Linden van der, W.J. (1977) Dichotomous decisions based on dichotomously scored items: a case study. Statistica Neerlandica, 31 (4). pp. 161-169. ISSN 0039-0402

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Abstract:	In a course in elementary statistics for psychology students using criterion-referenced achievement tests, the total test score, based on dichotomously scored items, was used for classifying students into those who passed and those who failed. The score on a test is considered as depending on a latent variable; it is assumed that the students can be dichotomized into the categories "mastery" (with scores on the latent variable above a cutting score), and "no mastery" (with scores below the cutting score on the latent variable). Two problems are considered: (a) How many students are classified incorrectly? Using the binomial error model a procedure is described for computing the classification proportions: p(mastery, passed), p(mastery, failed), p(no mastery, passed), and p(no mastery, failed), (b) What is the optimal cutting score on a test? Using a loss function a procedure for computing the optimal curring score is described.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 1977 Wiley InterScience
Faculty:	Behavioural Sciences (BS)
Research Group:	Research Methodology, Measurement and Data Analysis (OMD)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/70655
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9574.1977.tb00763.x
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