A Taxonomy of Item Response Models in Psychometrika

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to report on the frequency of which different item response theory models are employed in Psychometrika articles. Articles relevant to item response theory modeling in Psychometrika for 82 years (1936–2017) are sorted based on the classification framework by Thissen and Steinberg (Item response theory: Parameter estimation techniques. Dekker, New York, 1986). A sorting of the item response theory models used by authors of 367 research and review articles in Volumes 1–82 of Psychometrika indicates that the usual unidimensional parametric item response theory models for dichotomous items were employed in 51% of the articles. The usual unidimensional parametric item response theory models for polytomous items were employed in 21% of the articles. The multidimensional item response theory models were employed in 11% of the articles. Familiarity with each of more complicated item response theory models may gradually increase the percentage of accessible articles. Another classification based on recent articles is proposed and discussed. Guiding principles for the taxonomy are also discussed.