Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences helps individuals, both students and researchers, master the key concepts and resources needed to use Rasch techniques for analyzing data from assessments to measure variables such as abilities, attitudes, and personality traits. Upon completion of the text, readers will be able to confidently evaluate the strengths and weakness of existing instrumentation, compute linear person measures and item measures, interpret Wright Maps, utilize Rasch software, and understand what it means to measure in the Human Sciences. Each of the 24 chapters presents a key concept using a mix of theory and application of user-friendly Rasch software. Chapters also include a beginning and ending dialogue between two typical researchers learning Rasch, "Formative Assessment Check Points," sample data files, an extensive set of application activities with answers, a one paragraph sample research article text integrating the chapter topic, quick-tips, and suggested readings. Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences will be an essential resource for anyone wishing to begin, or expand, their learning of Rasch measurement techniques, be it in the Health Sciences, Market Research, Education, or Psychology.

Written in an accessible style, this book facilitates a deep understanding of the Rasch model. Authors Bond and Fox review the crucial properties of the Rasch model and demonstrate its use with a wide range of examples including the measurement of educational achievement, human development, attitudes, and medical rehabilitation. A glossary and numerous illustrations further aid the reader's understanding. The authors demonstrate how to apply Rasch analysis and prepare readers to perform their own analyses and interpret the results. Updated throughout, highlights of the Second Edition include: a new CD that features an introductory version of the latest Winsteps program and the data files for the book’s examples, preprogrammed to run using Winsteps; a new chapter on invariance that highlights the parallels between physical and human science measurement; a new appendix on analyzing data to help those new to Rasch analysis; more explanation of the key concepts and item characteristic curves; a new empirical example with data sets demonstrates the many facets of the Rasch model and other new examples; and an increased focus on issues related to unidimensionality, multidimensionality, and the Rasch factor analysis of residuals. Applying the Rasch Model is intended for researchers and practitioners in psychology, especially developmental psychologists, education, health care, medical rehabilitation, business, government, and those interested in measuring attitude, ability, and/or performance. The book is an excellent text for use in courses on advanced research methods, measurement, or quantitative analysis. Significant knowledge of statistics is not required.

This volume follows the publication of Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences. This new book presents additional topics not discussed in the previous volume. It examines key topics such as partial credit analysis of data, common person linking, computing equating constants, investigating discrimination, evaluating dimensionality, how to better utilize Wright Maps, how to design tests and surveys using Rasch theory, and many more. The book includes activities which can be used to practice the theme of each chapter and to test the reader’s understanding of Rasch techniques. Beginning and ending with a conversation between two students, each chapter provides clear step-by-step instructions as to how to conduct an analysis using the chapter theme. The chapters emphasize applications for the beginner learning Rasch and provide guidance for composing a write-up of an analysis for a presentation, paper, thesis or report. This book explores in detail many important yet often rarely discussed topics in Rasch. With its easy-to-read language and engaging format it reaches a wide audience of scientists, clinicians, students, researchers and psychometricians, providing a valuable toolkit for practical users of Rasch analysis. – Dr. Eva Fenwick, Clinical Research Fellow, Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore It is an easy to read book and provides immediate guidance for those wishing to conduct a Rasch analysis. The “conversations” between students in each chapter provides a welcome introduction to each topic. – Prof. Maik Walpuski, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany The lessons learned in their first book are extended by providing insightful demonstrations of some of the more complex concepts and techniques used in applying Rasch models. – Dr. Michael R. Peabody, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Illinois, USA I am amazed with the ability of these authors to communicate complicated knowledge, and the ability to make this highly complicated knowledge accessible to new learners guiding every step of the way. Through this book we get important knowledge about techniques and the different areas of use for Rasch methods in the human sciences This is truly an important book for students and researchers. – Prof. Charlotte Ringsmose, Aalborg University, Denmark

Cited over 1900 times, this classic text facilitates a deep understanding of the Rasch model. The authors review the crucial properties of the model and demonstrate its use with a variety of examples from education, psychology, and health. A glossary and numerous illustrations aid the reader's understanding. Readers learn how to apply Rasch analysis so they can perform their own analyses and interpret the results. The authors present an accessible overview that does not require a mathematical background. Highlights of the new edition include: -More learning tools to strengthen readers’ understanding including chapter introductions, boldfaced key terms, chapter summaries, activities, and suggested readings. -Divided chapters (4, 6, 7 & 8) into basic and extended understanding sections so readers can select the level most appropriate for their needs and to provide more in-depth investigations of key topics. -A website at www.routledge.com/9780415833424 that features free Rasch software, data sets, an Invariance worksheet, detailed instructions for key analyses, and links to related sources. -Greater emphasis on the role of Rasch measurement as a priori in the construction of scales and its use post hoc to reveal the extent to which interval scale measurement is instantiated in existing data sets. -Emphasizes the importance of interval level measurement data and demonstrates how Rasch measurement is used to examine measurement invariance. -Insights from other Rasch scholars via innovative applications (Ch. 9). -Extended discussion of invariance now reviews DIF, DPF, and anchoring (ch. 5). -Revised Rating Scale Model material now based on the analysis of the CEAQ (ch.6). -Clarifies the relationships between Rasch measurement, True Score Theory, and Item Response Theory by reviewing their commonalities and differences (Ch.13). -Provides more detail on how to conduct a Rasch analysis so readers can use the techniques on their own (Appendix B). Intended as a text for graduate courses in measurement, item response theory, (advanced) research methods or quantitative analysis taught in psychology, education, human development, business, and other social and health sciences, professionals in these areas also appreciate the book‘s accessible introduction.

This book applies Rasch measurement theory to the fields of education, psychology, sociology, marketing and health outcomes in order to measure various social constructs. The chief focus is on first principles of both the theory and its applications. Because software is readily available to carry out analyses of real data, numerous small examples are provided in the book. The software used in these examples, and which is helpful in working through the text, is RUMM2030 (Rasch unidimensional models for measurement). The book’s main goals are to equip researchers with the confidence they need in order to be in control of the analysis and interpretation of data, and to make professional rather than primarily statistical decisions mechanically. Because statistical principles are necessarily involved, reviews of the requisite statistics are provided in the Appendix. The content is based on courses that have been taught both online and in intensive form for over two decades. Although first principles are emphasised, much of the book is based on research conducted by the two authors and their colleagues.

This book focuses on the use of the Rasch measurement model in validation studies and in analyzing the psychometric properties of a variety of test instruments, questionnaires, and scales in international contexts. It broadly examines the development and application of Rasch modeling, providing in-depth analyses of the properties of various scales used in the fields of education, and humanities and social sciences research. The book includes exemplary works on educational research and practices that highlight recent and innovative applications, as well as theoretical and practical aspects of Rasch modeling. Readers will find it helpful to understand the latest approaches to Rasch measurement in educational research, as well as practices for future studies and quantitative research. 'This book provides a diverse set of perspectives on Rasch models from scholars across the globe. The volume is both theoretical and applied. The first section of the book provides an overview of Rasch modeling and explains the theoretical and conceptual framework underlying the Rasch model. The remainder of the book highlights multiple applications of the Rasch model within educational assessment as well as several examples of how Rasch modeling can be used for validation studies. This volume showcases the wide variety of ways in which Rasch modeling can be applied to assessment data to provide insights into students’ achievement and learning and to improve instruction.'–Betsy McCoach, University of Connecticut, USA. 'A well-written collection of articles. Grouped by the theoretical and applied aspects of Rasch measurement, each chapter in this edited volume makes notable contributions to knowledge and practice. Written by leading scholars in the field, these chapters were written in a clear, succinct, and assertive manner, providing readers with up-to-date information, analyses, and debates. This book should be found in the core collection of emerging researchers and established scholars in educational measurement.'–Timothy Teo, Murdoch University, Australia.

Rasch Measurement Theory Analysis in R provides researchers and practitioners with a step-by-step guide for conducting Rasch measurement theory analyses using R. It includes theoretical introductions to major Rasch measurement principles and techniques, demonstrations of analyses using several R packages that contain Rasch measurement functions, and sample interpretations of results. Features: Accessible to users with relatively little experience with R programming Reproducible data analysis examples that can be modified to accommodate users’ own data Accompanying e-book website with links to additional resources and R code updates as needed Features dichotomous and polytomous (rating scale) Rasch models that can be applied to data from a wide range of disciplines This book is designed for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners across the social, health, and behavioral sciences who have a basic familiarity with Rasch measurement theory and with R. Readers will learn how to use existing R packages to conduct a variety of analyses related to Rasch measurement theory, including evaluating data for adherence to measurement requirements, applying the dichotomous, Rating Scale, Partial Credit, and Many-Facet Rasch models, examining data for evidence of differential item functioning, and considering potential interpretations of results from such analyses.