Dimensionality Assessment Using the Full-Information Item Bifactor Analysis for Graded Response Data: An Illustration With the State Metacognitive Inventory

Dimensionality assessment using the full-information item bifactor model for graded response data is provided. The model applies to data in which each item relates to a general factor and one group factor. Specifically, alternative model specification within item response theory (IRT) is shown to te...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational and psychological measurement 2008-08, Vol.68 (4), p.695-709
Main Authors: Immekus, Jason C., Imbrie, P. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition. Intelligence
College Students
Educational evaluation
Factor Structure
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Item Response Theory
Measures (Individuals)
Metacognition
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychometrics
Scores
Standardized tests
Theory
Validation studies
Validity
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Dimensionality assessment using the full-information item bifactor model for graded response data is provided. The model applies to data in which each item relates to a general factor and one group factor. Specifically, alternative model specification within item response theory (IRT) is shown to test a scale's factor structure. For illustrative purposes, the bifactor model and competing IRT models were fit to the data of separate cohorts of incoming college students (Cohort 1, n = 1,490; Cohort 2, n = 1,533) to test the dimensionality of an adapted version of the State Metacognitive Inventory. Overall, the bifactor analysis did not strongly support distinct group factors after accounting for the general factor. Instead, results suggested conceptualizing the scale as unidimensional, indicating that scores should be based on the total scale, not subscales. Considerations related to the use of the bifactor IRT model are discussed.
ISSN:0013-1644
1552-3888
DOI:10.1177/0013164407313366