Journal Article

Consistency Theory for the General Nonparametric Classification Method

Chiu, Chia-Yi, Köhn, Hans-Friedrich

2019

Overview

Parametric likelihood estimation is the prevailing method for fitting cognitive diagnosis models—also called diagnostic classification models (DCMs). Nonparametric concepts and methods that do not rely on a parametric statistical model have been proposed for cognitive diagnosis. These methods are particularly useful when sample sizes are small. The general nonparametric classification (GNPC) method for assigning examinees to proficiency classes can accommodate assessment data conforming to any diagnostic classification model that describes the probability of a correct item response as an increasing function of the number of required attributes mastered by an examinee (known as the “monotonicity assumption”). Hence, the GNPC method can be used with any model that can be represented as a general DCM. However, the statistical properties of the estimator of examinees’ proficiency class are currently unknown. In this article, the consistency theory of the GNPC proficiency-class estimator is developed and its statistical consistency is proven.

• Publisher: Springer US,Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Algorithms / Assessment / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Classification / Cognition - classification / Cognition - physiology / Cognitive ability / Data Analysis / Diagnosis / Humanities / Humans / Individual Characteristics / Law / Likelihood Functions / Markov Processes / Mathematical models / Maximum Likelihood Statistics / Models, Statistical / Nonparametric statistics / Probability / Profiles / Psychology / Psychometrics / Psychometrics - methods / Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data / Research Design - trends / Sample Size / Statistical Theory and Methods / Statistics for Social Sciences / Statistics, Nonparametric / Testing and Evaluation / Units of Study