Dr. John Willse (Educational Research Methodology) received continuation of funding from Wake Forest University for the project “Using projective unidimensional models for measuring multidimensional educational data.” This project is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.
This sub-award from Wake Forest University is part of an IES grant that is establishing the foundation of a measurement paradigm that leverages the power of unidimensional item response theory (IRT) for handling tests that are multidimensional, even when the tests are intended to measure a single construct. This new paradigm, known as projective IRT, allows accurate ability estimates for one or more specific dimensions of interest, even when other dimensions are also measured. Such an approach will be useful in educational measurement, given the inherently, even if unintentionally, multidimensional nature of most educational assessments. This grant supports the research efforts of two doctoral students and one faculty member.
