Practical Rasch Measurement - Core Topics

Dr. J. Michael Linacre

Aim of Course:

Rasch analysis constructs linear measures from scored observations, such as responses to multiple-choice questions, Likert scales and quality-of-life assessments. This course covers the practical aspects of data setup, analysis, output interpretation, fit analysis, differential item functioning, dimensionality and reporting. Simple test linking and equating designs are addressed. Supporting theory is presented conceptually. Participants are encouraged to analyze their own datasets in parallel to the course datasets.

Who Should Take This Course:

Survey researchers, social scientists who use surveys or questionnaires in their work, education assessment analysts and managers.

Course Program:

The course is structured as follows

The Instructor:

Dr. J. Michael Linacre is Research Director of Winsteps.com and formerly Director of the MESA Psychometric Laboratory at the University of Chicago. Dr. Linacre has taught the principles and practice of Rasch measurement for over twenty years, for much of that time in close collaboration with Benjamin D. Wright, for many years the leading proponent of Rasch methodology. Dr. Linacre is the developer of two leading Rasch software titles, Winsteps and Facets, and author of Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (MESA Press, 1994). He has been Editor of Rasch Measurement Transactions since 1989. His research interests include the measurement of health outcomes and authentic educational testing. In over 25 years of developing Rasch software, Dr. Linacre has probably analyzed more Rasch-related datasets, and a greater variety, than any other analyst.

Organization of the Course:

The course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor. The course is scheduled to take place over 4 weeks, and typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials and work through exercises. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments.

Certificates and Grades:

You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or certificates. Or you may be enrolled in a statistics.com Program in Advanced Statistical Studies that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for purposes of issuing a grade. Or you may require only a "Certificate of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's). As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.

Credit:

This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a certificate will be issued by statistics.com, upon request.

Dates:

Jan. 8 - Feb. 5, 2010
Apr. 30 - May. 28, 2010
Aug. 20 - Sep. 17, 2010
Click here to be notified of future course offerings.

Participants gain access to the online materials on the first day of the course, and typically spend about 15 hours per week (at their convenience). You retain full access to course materials, including discussion board, for two weeks after the course closing date.

Level:

Intermediate

Prerequisite:

Participants should have a good grasp of (and comfort with) the material covered in Introduction to Statistics for Beginners, Introduction to Statistics 1: Inference for a Single Variable, and Introduction to Statistics 2: Working with Bivariate Data. This includes the normal distribution, t-tests and significance (based on group means and standard errors), and the chi-square distribution. An understanding of logarithms is also required, as is the ability to manipulate an Excel spreadsheet. If you are not familiar with the basics of educational measurement and assessment, or would like a refresher, please consider taking "Introduction to Assessment/Measurement in Education" . For additional information about course prerequisites, click here.

Course Text:

All necessary study material is provided online by the instructor. Helpful additional study material can be found in the book Applying the Rasch Model, 2nd edition (Bond & Fox, 2007, Taylor & Francis/Lawrence Erlbaum Associates). The text can be ordered directly from the publisher, Taylor & Francis, by clicking here.

Software:

The course will use a time-limited version of Winsteps software available when the course starts. Microsoft Excel is used extensively.

Registration:

Register Online - $469
Register Online (academic) - $399 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)

Add $50 service fee if you require a prior invoice, or if you need to submit a purchase order or voucher, pay by wire transfer or EFT, or refund and reprocess a prior payment. Please use this printed registration form, for these and other special orders.

Note: Courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Your registration will be confirmed for the first available course date, unless you specify otherwise.

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