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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Learning models and the double monotone model

Abstract

dc:description

The goal of some assessments is to evaluate a person’s ability levels while others aim to teach through an intervention. In Chapter 1, we propose some IRT growth models for learning and estimate their learning parameters under the restrictions of the Linear Logistic Test Model. We also examine the potential benefit of using an adaptive selection method in conjunction with these models which aims to increase the rate of learning. In 1971, Mokken proposed the Double Monotone Model (DMM), a non-parametric item response model which is widely used to assess peoples’ abilities or attitudes. In Chapter 2, we introduce a procedure for estimating the DMM. We study its performance in simulation and use M-estimation to develop an asymptotic theory for estimation of ICCs using isotonic regression. Previous isotonic regression theory showed that the isotonic regression estimator, ˆ Pj , is consistent for Pj when θ is observable. When θ is unknown and estimated by θˆ, we show that the isotonic regression estimator, P˜j , is also consistent for Pj . We perform a real data analysis and illustrate how to select subsets of items to achieve double monotonicity, and we develop a test for double monotonicity with a null hypothesis of double monotonicity. In Chapter 3, we compare the performance of the 1PL to the DMM under various conditions with the constraints of double monotonicity. We found that fitting a 1PL can perform at least as well as the DMM for short exams and small sample sizes, even when the 1PL does not hold. This is due to the requirement of a plug-in estimate of theta for the nonparametric model. We also study the implication for ability estimation and found that nonparametric estimation is quite good. Recommendations are given for when to use or not use the nonparametric DMM.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Statistics
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Yu, Albert
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Douglas, Jeffrey
  • Culpepper, Steven
  • Kern, Justin
  • Zhang, Susu

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 2022 Albert Yu
Language dc:language
en, eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117700

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Yu, Albert. Learning models and the double monotone model. Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2022. https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117700