Examining student ability using KIDMAP fit statistics of Rasch analysis in excel

It is very common that examinees have identical test scores. In such a case, some subjective procedures are often used to determine admission priority for those examinees with identical scores. This study proposed an objective procedure to do so. In Rasch analysis, the fit statistics are used to assess the difference between expected and observed responses and thus can be used to determine the priority: the smaller the MNSQ, the higher the priority. If OUTFIT MNSQs are identical across persons with identical test scores, INFIT MNSQs can then be used to determine the priority. In this study, we implemented an Excel-VBA KIDMAP that provides detailed response pattern and fit statistics for each individual examinee. A real data set of 37 multiple-choice items and 500 examinees was analyzed and two students having identical test scores were selected to illustrate the KIDMAP and the procedure in determining priority. In addition, the Excel-VBA KIDMAP provides instant feedback to respective examinees, their teachers and parents. Copyright © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.