28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

1028 POSTER
Research methods and statistics
1028.63 New parameter estimation approaches for dichotomous models based on IRT, Shuliang
Ding 1 , Fen Luo 1 , Wei Zhu 1 , Jianhua Xiong 1 , Shenghong Dong 2 , 1 JiangXi Normal University,
China, 2 Inst. fuer Schulforschung, Univ. Innsbruck, Austria
In item response theory (IRT), for estimating 2PLM item parameters a heuristic method, Logistic
Regression (LR) method is used. Unfortunately, this method requires the unrealistic assumption
that abilities are known. LR method is generalized and combined with Bayes EAP estimation of
abilities. This new method is known as LR/EAP. For estimating 3PLM, the Entropy estimation
method (EE/EAP) is introduced. Monte Carlo study shows, the behaviors of LR/EAP exceeds
BILOG when Logistic scale is used (D=1) to some extent. These results are derived under quite
general conditions.
1028.64 Higher-order estimation error in factor analysis and structural equation modeling,
Haruhiko Ogasawara, Otaru University of Commerce, Japan
A general formula of the higher-order asymptotic mean square error is derived for the estimators
of the parameters in structural equation modeling. The formula covers nonnormally distributed
data as well as normally distributed ones. The formula requires the partial derivatives of an
estimator up to the third order with respect to sample variances and covariances, which are shown
for the case of the Wishart maximum likelihood estimator. To see the accuracy of the formula,
simulations are performed using the exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis models.
1028.65 M-SPACE: A Windows/Mac/Linux program for determining the dimensionality of
multidimensional scaling data, Ian Spence, Ken Seergobin, University of Toronto, Canada
Based on Monte Carlo simulation data, Spence and Graef (1974) devised a method for
determining the underlying dimensionality of a non-metric multidimensional scaling solution and
implemented it as a computer program (Spence and Graef, 1973; 1980). Although the basic
method remains popular, the original FORTRAN program is now obsolete and inconvenient to use.
We introduce and describe a new easy-to-use cross-platform version for modern windowing
environments.
1028.66 Fuzzy statistical analysis and its applications in educational research, Berlin Wu 1 ,
Hsin-feng Wu 2 , 1 National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, China, 2 National Chengchi Univ.,
Taipei, China
This paper proposes a new analytical method for educational research: the fuzzy statistical
analysis. The new method is better able to capture the intricacies and complexities of human
minds and behaviors in teaching and learning than traditional analyses. Definitions of membership
function, fuzzy mode, fuzzy median, as well as their related properties were introduced first.
Examples of empirical data were then re-analyzed using the fuzzy analysis. To demonstrate the
effectiveness and advantages of the new method, the results were presented in comparison with
those by the traditional method using dualistic and mutually exclusive categorical analyses.
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