Introduces and discusses the rationale and procedures of two nonparametric approaches to estimating the operating characteristic of a discrete item response, or the conditional probability, given the latent trait, that the examinee's response be that specific response. (SLD)

A general model for the homogeneous case of the continuous response is proposed. The model is an expansion and generalization of the one proposed by the author in 1974, in which the open response situation is dealt with. In this generalized model, the closed response situation is dealt with, and it includes the model for the open response…

The accuracy of estimation of the subjects' latent ability maintained by tailoring for each testee the order of item presentation and the border of item dichotomization was compared to the information provided by the original graded test items. (RC)