Sequential Estimation in Item Calibration with A Two-Stage Design

Abstract: In this paper we apply a two-stage sequential design to item calibration problems under a three-parameter logistic model assumption. The measurement errors of the estimates of the latent trait levels of examinees are considered in our procedure. Moreover, a sequential procedure is employed to guarantee that the estimates of the parameters reach a prescribed accuracy criterion when the iteration is stopped, which fully takes the advantage of sequential design. Statistical properties of both the item parameter estimates and the sequential procedure are discussed. We compare the performance of the proposed method with that of the procedures based on some conventional designs using numerical studies.