INTRODUCTION TO ITEM RESPONSE THEORY (IRT) MODELING AND APPLICATIONS A one-day short course sponsored by the Joint Program in Survey Methodology

MAY 26, 2010
Presented at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, MD

BRYCE REEVE

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Each year, new surveys are developed or revised from previous measures in the hope of obtaining surveys that are reliable, valid, sensitive to change, and provide interpretable scores that accurately characterize a respondent’s standing on a measured construct.  This need for psychometrically sound measures calls for better analytical tools beyond the methods available from traditional measurement theory. Applications of item response theory (IRT) modeling have increased considerably in educational, psychological, and health outcomes measurement because of its utility for survey development and evaluation, assessment of measurement equivalence, instrument linking, and computerized adaptive testing. IRT models the relationship, in probabilistic terms, between a person's response to a survey question and their standing on a latent construct such as depression, anxiety, or fatigue. This information allows survey developers to build reliable and efficient measures tailored for an individual or group.

This introductory course will discuss the basic concepts and methods of IRT models including understanding the theory behind the models, defining and interpreting IRT model properties, differentiating among the various IRT models, checking model assumptions, and interpreting IRT scores.  Further, the course will use examples from previous research to demonstrate how IRT methods can be used to inform and refine survey development, assessment measurement equivalence, link survey scores, and build item banks for short forms or computer-adaptive testing (CAT).

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The course is geared to individuals in government, universities, business, and nonprofit organizations interested in understanding and applying item response theory modeling in instrument development and evaluation. Introductory course work in statistics is recommended but not required. 

THE INSTRUCTOR
Bryce Reeve is a Psychometrician and Program Director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI), where he has worked since 2000.  At NCI, he directs an active program to enhance the use of patient-reported outcomes (including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient satisfaction with healthcare) in clinical research and practice to improve the quality of care for both pediatric and adult cancer patients. With a degree in quantitative psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his work at NCI is focused on integrating the tools of psychometrics into the field of health outcomes research to develop and to improve HRQOL measurement. 

Dr. Reeve serves as a NIH Science Officer on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Network.  The PROMIS Network is in the process of building a public domain Web-based resource to dynamically administer, collect, and report data on key HRQOL domains relevant to a variety of chronic diseases.  In 2004, he organized an international conference on improving health outcomes measures using tools available from modern measurement theory and computer technology.  Attended by over 230 members from government, academia, and industry, this conference sparked great interest in the field and provided a foundation to explore the new arena of application of computerized-adaptive testing. 

COURSE MATERIALS
Registrants will be provided with a course lecture notebook.

MEALS
JPSM group continental breakfasts, lunches and refreshments are included in the course fee.

DAILY CHECK-IN
Course registrants should check-in with JPSM Onsite at the course.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

JPSM CITATION PROGRAM
The citation programs are built around the JPSM short courses. The JPSM Citation in Introductory Survey Methodology is designed to provide the working professional and interested students with state-of-the-art knowledge about current principles and practices for conducting complex surveys combined with practical skills of day-to-day utility. The JPSM Citation in Introductory Economic Measurement is designed for professional staff requiring a grounding in the principles and practices of economic measurement. Completion of the citation programs involves taking a semester-length JPSM credit-bearing course and eight JPSM short courses, of which four are specified core courses. For information on the Certificate and Citation Programs visit the website at http://www.jpsm.org or call 301-314-7911.

HYATT REGENCY BETHESDA
One Bethesda Metro Center (7400 Wisconsin Ave), Bethesda, MD, 20814
Front Desk: 301-657-1234 Web: http://bethesda.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

The Hyatt Regency sits on top of the Bethesda Metro Stop on the red line. The course will be held at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One Bethesda Metro Center, at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road in Maryland.  The hotel is in the heart of Maryland's high-tech corridor, just 6 miles from downtown Washington, D.C., with convenient access to the Capital Beltway and Metro Subway.

OVERNIGHT ROOMS
Individuals are responsible for making their own overnight room reservations and for payment.

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Amtrak:  www.amtrak.com
MARC Train:  www.mtamaryland.com
Metro Rail & Bus:  www.wmata.com
Parking Locations: www.parkingcarma.com
Supper Shuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/
VRE Train: www.vre.org/
Washington Flyer Coach Service: http://www.washfly.com/flyer_bus_schedule.htm

METRO RAIL
Bethesda Metro Stop: 7450 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Line: Red Line
Exit: The hotel is above the Metro station. Take the escalator or elevator up to ground level. Exit onto Wisconsin Avenue and walk a short distance south. Total walking is 0.03 miles.

PARKING
Registrants are responsible for parking costs.

Hotel Parking: There is a parking garage located directly underneath the Hotel that offers valet and self-parking. The entrance is on Wisconsin Avenue. The garage is not owned or operated by the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. If you park on Level P1 or P2 the elevator takes to the outside street level. If you park on Level P3 then you can exit directly into the Ballroom Level of the hotel.
Colonial Parking: 2 Bethesda Metro Ctr, N Ln, Bethesda MD (Between Montgomery Ln – Woodmont Ave)
Central Parking Systems‎: 4600 East West Hwy, Bethesda, MD‎ (Between Wisconsin Ave – Waverly St)
Colonial Parking Inc‎: 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD‎ (Between E W Highway – Avondale St)
Colonial Parking Inc‎: 7500 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD ‎(Between Wisconsin Ave – Commerce Ln)
Central Parking System‎: 4800 Hampden Ln, Bethesda, MD‎ (Between Wisconsin Ave – Woodmont Ave)
Metropolitan Garage: 7601 Woodmont Ave, Garage 49, Bethesda, MD (Between Edgemoor Ln – Moorland Ln)
Waverly Garage: 7401 Waverly St, Garage 47, Bethesda, MD (Between E W Hwy – Montgomery Ave)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From the North: Take I-95 South to I-495 toward Silver Spring. Take Exit 34, Wisconsin Avenue toward Bethesda. Follow about 2 ½ miles. The hotel is on the right.

From the South: Take I-95 North / Frederick. At the I-495/I-270 split, bear right onto I-495. Take the second exit, Wisconsin Avenue (355 South). Follow about 2 ½ miles. The hotel is on the right.

From Virginia via I-66: Take I-66 west to I-495 North, to Wisconsin Avenue South ( Exit 34 South). Drive 2 miles to East-West Highway (MD 410 West). Drive through the intersection. The hotel is on right.

From Virginia via I-495 and Old Georgetown Road: Take I-495 North toward the I-270 split. Stay in the right lane. Take the Old Georgetown Road (MD-187) Exit 36 South. Turn right onto Old Georgetown Road (MD-187). Take Old Georgetown Road 2.4 miles to Woodmont Avenue. Turn right onto Woodmont Avenue. Turn left onto Montgomery Lane. Drive 2 blocks to Wisconsin Avenue. Turn right. The hotel is on the right.

From Washington, D.C.: Go north on Wisconsin Avenue to 7400 Wisconsin Avenue. The hotel is on your left.

From Montgomery County and Prince George's County via I-495: Take I-495 (Capital Beltway) West towards Northern Virginia. Take the Connecticut Avenue Exit 33 (MD-185) toward Chevy Chase. Stay in one of the two left lanes in the off ramp. Turn left on Connecticut Avenue (MD-185). Drive 1.3 miles to East-West Highway (MD 410 West). Turn right onto East-West Highway and drive one mile to Wisconsin Avenue. Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue. The hotel is on the right.

AIRPORTS

DCA- RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT (18 miles)

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro Stop: (Metro Blue/Yellow Line)
The Washington, DC Metrorail system has an elevated Metrorail station connected to the concourse level at Reagan National Airport. You will need to transfer to the Red Line.

DCA Terminal B and C: The concourse level is connected to the metro station by two enclosed pedestrian bridges.

DCA Terminal A: Exit the terminal. At the street side curb board an “Airport Shuttle” bus. At Parking Garages B and C (bus shelter #3 and bus shelter #5) there is access to an enclosed bridge which that connects to the metro station.

Using the Yellow Line: Take the Yellow Line towards Mt Vernon Square. Exit at the Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station. Transfer to the Red Line towards Shady Grove. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

Using the Blue Line: Take the Blue Line towards Largo Town Center Metro Station. Exit at Metro Center Metro Station. Transfer to the Red Line towards Grosvenor. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

Super Shuttle: SuperShuttle door-to-door service is available at the Airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on demand basis. For information, call 1-800-BLUEVAN

IAD- DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (18 miles)
IAD connects by bus to the Metro Rail System.

Metro Bus & Rail: Take Metrobus 5A from IAD to the Rosslyn Metro Rail Station (Blue & Orange Lines). Take the Orange Line towards New Carrollton. Exit at Metro Center Metro Station. Transfer to the Redline towards Grosvenor. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

Washington Flyer Coach Service: Purchase a ticket (one-way or round-trip) at the Washington Flyer Coach ticket counter located at Arrivals Door #4 in the Main Terminal. Travelers will also board the Coach from this location. The buses depart approximately every 30 minutes but please listen for announcements for exact bus departure times. The coach service will take you to the West Falls Church Metro Station. Take the Orange Line towards Stadium Armory. Exit at the Metro Center Metro Station. Take the Red Line Towards Shady Grove. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

BWI - BALTIMORE / WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL THURGOOD MARSHALL AIRPORT (32 Mi)
BWI connects by bus and train to the Metro Rail system.

Metro Bus & Rail: Take the south bound B30 Metrobus to Greenbelt Metro Rail Station located at Terminal (pier E) on the lower level. Get on the Green Line towards Branch Ave. Exit at Fort Totten Metro Station.  Transfer to the Red Line going towards Shady Grove. Exit at Bethesda Metro Station.

MARC Train: The MARC train is another option from BWI. Go to the lower baggage claim level of BWI to get on the shuttle to the BWI MARCH station. After you buy your ticket, get on the MARC Penn Line going to Union Station. Once you arrive at Union Station you’ll need to take the Metro Red Line to Shady Grove. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

Amtrak Train: You can take the Amtrak train from the BWI Airport Rail Station. Get on the train heading south to Union Station. Once you arrive at Union Station you’ll need to take the Metro Red Line to Shady Grove. Exit at the Bethesda Metro Station.

Super Shuttle: Ticket counters are located on the lower level baggage claim area of BWI. One is near baggage claim #1 (Southwest Airlines Terminal – Concourse A) and the other is near baggage claim #10 (Concourse C). They are open between the hours of 6:00 AM and 2:00 AM. When counters are closed, please call (888) 826-2700 for information or to arrange service.

JPSM SHORT COURSE
Questions for this course should be directed to the JPSM Short Course, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Room 4050, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321, Phone: (800) 937-9320, Fax: (734) 764-8263, Email: jpsmshort@isr.umich.edu.

Short Courses: www.jpsm.org/shortcourses
Sponsor Affiliate List: projects.isr.umich.edu/jpsm/info.cfm#sponsors
JPSM Home Page: www.jpsm.org
Tax Identification (University of Michigan): 38-6006309

 

---