ERIC Number: EJ974722
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Sep
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0146-6216
EISSN: N/A
Exploratory Mokken Scale Analysis as a Dimensionality Assessment Tool: Why Scalability Does Not Imply Unidimensionality
Smits, Iris A. M.; Timmerman, Marieke E.; Meijer, Rob R.
Applied Psychological Measurement, v36 n6 p516-539 Sep 2012
The assessment of the number of dimensions and the dimensionality structure of questionnaire data is important in scale evaluation. In this study, the authors evaluate two dimensionality assessment procedures in the context of Mokken scale analysis (MSA), using a so-called fixed lowerbound. The comparative simulation study, covering various theoretically and empirically relevant conditions, indicates that the MSA procedures may result in scales that are inconsistent with the dimensionality of the data set at hand. That is, a single Mokken scale can be multidimensional, and two Mokken scales can pertain to a single dimension. In an illustrative evaluation, MSA using a range of lowerbounds, rather than a fixed lowerbound, was shown to have some benefits, but not to solve all limitations. The results of this study imply that MSA is perfectly suitable to create Mokken scales. However, MSA appears of limited value as a dimensionality assessment method. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Simulation, Measures (Individuals), Program Effectiveness, Item Response Theory, Models, Evaluation Methods, Higher Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Maryland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A