Linear Logistic Test Modeling with R

Abstract

The present paper gives a general introduction to the linear logistic test model (Fischer, 1973), an extension of the Rasch model with linear constraints on item parameters, along with eRm (an R package to estimate different types of Rasch models; Mair, Hatzinger, & Mair, 2014) functions to estimate the model and interpret its parameters. The applications of the model in test validation, hypothesis testing, cross-cultural studies of test bias, rule-based item generation, and investigating construct irrelevant factors which contribute to item difficulty are explained. The model is applied to an English as a foreign language reading comprehension test and the results are discussed.