ITEM RESPONSE MODELS FOR ASSESSING CHANGE IN DICHOTOMOUS ITEMS

The paper discusses three methodological approaches to measuring chang e in developmental research using item response models. To illustrate application, an empirical example using data from the Vienna Developme ntal Study is presented: 94 kindergarten students were presented twice with a set of k dichotomous items measuring general developmental sta tus. First, we analysed individual changes using a residual-analytic a pproach based on measures from the dichotomous Rasch Model. Second, in a confirmatory approach, we investigated group-specific changes in a quasiexperimental design using the Hybrid Linear Logistic Model with R elaxed Assumptions. Third, we presented an exploratory method to searc h for subgroups of subjects that differ systematically in developmenta l patterns using Mixed Rasch Models. The discussion focuses on the vir tues and limitations of the three approaches.