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Quality of Measurement and Sample Size

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Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences

Abstract

In earlier chapters, readers learn of the importance of where items are located on a trait and where persons fall on a trait when item measures are considered. Of importance to the measurement of persons and items is the sample size of items and persons. This chapter introduces the issue of sample size and the myriad of issues related to sample size when they conduct measurement. Researchers can obtain a great deal of information much from research with a small sample of respondents (e.g., less than 30) and a small number of items (e.g., 10). What is possible from a sample in part depends upon what one wants to learn, where items are located along a trait, and where persons are located on a trait. The chapter finishes up with a student dialog, Keywords and Phrases, Quick Tips, Data Files, References, and Additional Readings. As in almost all chapters, sample analyses are used to reinforce the chapter topic.

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Additional Readings

  • Smith, E. V., Jr., & Smith, R. M. (Eds.). (2004). Introduction to Rasch measurement: Theory, models, and applications. Maple Grove, MN: JAM Press.

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Boone, W.J., Staver, J.R., Yale, M.S. (2014). Quality of Measurement and Sample Size. In: Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6857-4_17

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