Abstract
This chapter provides an introduction to techniques and indices used to evaluate the reliability of an instrument. These techniques go beyond the pre-Rasch attempts to summarize reliability which are often used in research. Next, Rasch person reliability and item reliability are presented. Consideration is made as to whether one should look at all items and all persons in evaluating indices such as person reliability and item reliability or should one ignore “extreme” persons and items. The chapter continues by introducing person separation, item separation, person strata, and item strata. The last major topic provided is one in which the authors suggest how one might keep track of changes in chapter indices as one attempts to (1) maximize the measurement possible with an instrument and (2) understand what the measurement within an instrument means. The chapter finishes up with a summary discussion between the two students, Keywords and Phrases, Quick Tips, Data Files, References, and Additional Readings. As in almost all chapters, sample analyses are used to reinforce the chapter topic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
AERA, APA, & NCME. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: Author.
Boone, W., Townsend, S., & Staver, J. R. (2011). Using Rasch theory to guide the practice of survey development and survey data analysis in science education and to inform science reform efforts: An exemplar utilizing STEBI self efficiency data. Science Education, 95(2), 258–280.
Duncan, P. W., Bode, R., Lai, S. M., & Perera, S. (2003). Rasch analysis of a new stroke-specific outcome scale: The stroke impact scale. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84(7), 953.
Fisher, W. P. (1992). Reliability statistics. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 6(3), 238.
Linacre, J. M. (1997). KR-20 or Rasch reliability: Which tells the “truth”? Rasch Measurement Transactions, 11(3), 580–581.
Linacre, J. M. (2012). A user’s guide to Winsteps Ministeps Rasch-model computer programs [version 3.74.0]. Retrieved from http://www.winsteps.com/index.htm
Meyer, J. P. (2010). Reliability. New York: Oxford University Press.
Nunnally, J. (1967). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Tennant, A., & Conghan, P. (2007). The Rasch measurement model in rheumatology: What is it and why use it? When should it be applied, and what should one look for in a Rasch paper? Arthritis Care and Research, 5(8), 1358–1362.
Wright, B. D., & Masters, O. N. (1982). Rating scale analysis (Rasch measurement). Chicago: MESA Press.
Additional Readings
Fisher, W. (1992). Reliability statistics. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 6(3), 238.
Linacre, J. M. (1996). True-score reliability or Rasch statistical validity? Rasch Measurement Transactions, 9(4), 455.
Schumaker, R., & Smith, E. V. (2007). Reliability: A Rasch perspective. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 67(3), 394–409.
Wright, B. D., & Masters, G. N. (2002). Number of person or item strata. Rasch Measurement Transactions, 16(3), 888.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Netherlands
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Boone, W.J., Staver, J.R., Yale, M.S. (2014). Person Reliability, Item Reliability, and More. In: Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6857-4_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6857-4_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6856-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6857-4
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)