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The Bias Function of the Maximum Likelihood Estimate of Ability for the Dichotomous Response Level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Fumiko Samejima
Fumiko Samejima*
Affiliation:
University of Tennessee
*
Requests for reprints should be sent to Fumiko Samejima, 310B Austin Peay Bldg., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996-0900.
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Abstract

Samejima has recently given an approximation for the bias function for the maximum likelihood estimate of the latent trait in the general case where item responses are discrete, generalizing Lord's bias function in the three-parameter logistic model for the dichotomous response level. In the present paper, observations are made about the behavior of this bias function for the dichotomous response level in general, and also with respect to several widely used mathematical models. Some empirical examples are given.

Keywords

biasmaximum likelihood estimationlatent trait modelsdiscrete item responsesdichotomous responsesgraded responses
Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , June 1993 , pp. 195 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

This research was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research (N00014-81-C-0569). I would like to thank my assistant, Barbara Livingston, for helping prepare this manuscript.

References

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