Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Investigating invariant item ordering in the Mental Health Inventory : an illustration of the use of different methods

Watson, Roger; Wang, Wenru; Thompson, David R.; Meijer, Rob R.

Authors

Wenru Wang

David R. Thompson

Rob R. Meijer



Abstract

Invariant item ordering is a property of scales whereby the items are scored in the same order across a wide range of the latent trait and across a wide range of respondents. In the package ‘mokken’ in the statistical software R, the ability to analyse Mokken scales for invariant item ordering has recently been available and techniques for inspecting visually the item response curves of item pairs, have also been included. While methods to assess invariant item ordering are available, there have been indications that items representing extremes of distress in mental well-being scales, such as suicidal ideation, may lead to claiming invariant item ordering where it does not exist. We used the Mental Health Inventory to see if invariant item ordering was indicated in any Mokken scales derived and to see if this was being influenced by extreme items. A Mokken scale was derived indicating invariant item ordering. Visual inspection of the item pairs indicated that the most difficult item (suicidal ideation) was located far from the remaining cluster of items. Removing this item lowered invariant item ordering to an unacceptable level.

Citation

Watson, R., Wang, W., Thompson, D. R., & Meijer, R. R. (2014). Investigating invariant item ordering in the Mental Health Inventory : an illustration of the use of different methods. Personality and individual differences, 66(August), 74-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.03.017

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 15, 2014
Online Publication Date Apr 12, 2014
Publication Date 2014-08
Deposit Date Apr 10, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Personality and individual differences
Print ISSN 0191-8869
Electronic ISSN 0191-8869
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 66
Issue August
Pages 74-78
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.03.017
Keywords Item response theory, Mokken scaling, Invariant item ordering, Mental health, Coronary heart disease
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/372203
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886914001767
Additional Information Author's accepted manuscript of article published in: Personality and individual differences, 2014, v.66.

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations