An item analysis of tests in mathematics applying logistic test models

Abstract

The current study investigates learning difficulties in some areas of Mathematics from the point of view of the structure of the learning task. The study may be divided into three parts, each dealing with the different aspects of the tests. In the first part all errors made by the pupils are analysed, a flow chart being made of the most prelevant errors in test of equations and inequations in primary level. The second part concentrates on the application of the simple logistic model to the data. In addition, the results were compared to results obtained by traditional test theory. The third part used the linear logistic test model to examine the structure of the items. As a result the difficult operations were found. An estimate for the difficulty parameter was calculated for each operation.