Ce travail exploratoire porte sur l’élaboration d'une échelle de repérage du Trouble de l’Acquisition des Coordinations (TAC) à destination des enseignants d'école maternelle pour des élèves de 5 ans en classe de Grande Section (GS).Les enfants TAC font l'objet de repérage et de dépistage tardifs ce qui a des conséquences lourdes dans les domaines émotionnel, social et scolaire pour eux-mêmes et leur famille. Un repérage précoce doit permettre la pose d'un diagnostic dès l'entrée à l'école élémentaire afin que des prises en charge s'organisent rapidement. Le modèle théorique de réponse à l'item, le modèle de Rasch employé, a permis d'élaborer une échelle d'intensité à 22 items, ajustée aux critères diagnostics de la dyspraxie développementale et des activités menées en maternelle : L’échelle d'adaptation à la viescolaire. Dans une première étude, cette échelle administrée à 144 sujets de 3 ans 2 mois à 9 ans 2 mois (répartis en 4 groupes à profil spécifique : en difficulté scolaire, en situation de handicap, avec TAC, avec TED) montre qu'elle est sensible aux effets de développement et qu’elle discrimine sur un unique trait latent le groupe des enfants TAC.L'échelle administrée à un second groupe de 185 enfants ordinaires de 3 ans 5 mois à 6 ans, montre un effet des variables « sexe » et « classe » pour les garçons. Cette seconde étude permet d'avancer un score seuil pour le dépistage et un autre pour l'aide en classe. Les tests statistiques mettent en évidence la fidélité et la validité de l'échelle. Des travaux complémentaires sont envisagés et des pistes d'évolution de l'échelle sont proposées. Deux DVD d'informations portant sur les BEP et sur les TAC, incluant l'échelle de repérage à destination des enseignants (utilisateurs de l'échelle) sont également élaborés. / This exploratory work is a study for teachers for 5-year-old children in a reception class, about an elaboration of a scale for identification of the Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Children DCD are victims of late tracking and detection, which have serious consequences in the emotional, social, school activities, for themselves and their families. An earlyidentification allows a diagnosis so that supports can be organized early in the entrance of the primary school. The theoretical reference of item response, model of RASH, has developed an intensity scale. It contains 22 items, fit the diagnostic criteria for developmental dyspraxia and school activities : the Adaptation Scale of School Life. This scale, has been applied to 144 children from 3 years 2 month to 9 years 2 month (divided into 4 groups with specific profiles : withlearning difficulties, living with disabilities, DCD, Persuasive Developmental Disorders). This shows that it’s sensitive to the effects of development. It discriminates on one single latent trait of children DCD. The scale applied to a second 185 children common group from 3 years 5 month to 6, shows a gender effect, a class effect for boys. This second study provides a further score threshold for screening and support in the classroom. Statistical tests highlight the reliability and the validity of the scale. Further work is planned and possible scale development proposed. A digital information (CD)on the DCD that proposes wide tracking for users of the scale (teachers) is also developed.

A prevalência de crianças com atrasos no desenvolvimento em um ou mais domínios varia entre 16 e 18% na literatura, mas estima-se que apenas 30% dos casos são detectados pelos profissionais de saúde. Em parte, este déficit na detecção se deve à falta de utilização de instrumentos de avaliação ou rastreio. No contexto brasileiro são poucos os instrumentos disponíveis para avaliar desenvolvimento infantil e, além disso, os que existem apresentam limitações. A presente tese teve como objetivo construir o Inventário Dimensional de Avaliação do Desenvolvimento Infantil (IDADI) para avaliação de crianças de zero a 72 meses com base no relato parental. Para a construção do IDADI, foram realizados três estudos. O Estudo I consistiu em uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar os instrumentos mais utilizados na avaliação dos marcos do desenvolvimento infantil e suas propriedades psicométricas. Ele forneceu as bases para a seleção dos domínios que integram o IDADI e para a construção de itens. O Estudo II realizou os procedimentos teóricos e metodológicos de construção do IDADI e a análise de evidências de validade de conteúdo. O Estudo III analisou as evidências de validade da estrutura interna do IDADI, a fidedignidade e as evidências de validade baseadas na relação com variáveis critério. Foram utilizados pressupostos da Teoria Clássica dos Testes e da psicometria moderna com a aplicação do modelo de Rasch. O processo de construção foi guiado com o rigor teórico e metodológico indicado pela literatura e apresentou evidências favoráveis de validade de conteúdo. Também foram comprovadas evidências de validade baseadas na estrutura interna, na relação com variáveis critério e de fidedignidade. Estes resultados fortalecem o potencial do IDADI para avaliação multidimensional do desenvolvimento infantil no contexto brasileiro, tanto na clínica como na pesquisa. Estudos futuros serão realizados para elaboração de normas de interpretação, de um inventário breve para utilização em programas de atenção infantil e de uma versão de tarefas para avaliação direta da criança. / The prevalence of children with developmental delays in one or more domains varies between 16 and 18% according to the literature, but it is estimated that only 30% of cases are detected by health professionals. In part, this deficit in detection is due to the lack of use of assessment or screening instruments. In the Brazilian context, there are few instruments available to evaluate child development, and, in addition, those that exist have some limitations. The purpose of this dissertation was to construct the Dimensional Inventory of Child Development Assessment (IDADI) to evaluate children from zero to 72 months based on parental report. For the construction of IDADI, three studies were carried out. Study I consisted of a systematic review of the literature to identify the most used instruments in assessing child developmental milestones and their psychometric properties. It has provided the basis for the selection of the domains that integrate IDADI and for the items construction. Study II have performed the theoretical and methodological procedures for the construction of IDADI and the analysis of content validity evidences. Study III have analyzed the evidences of validity for the internal structure of IDADI, reliability and validity evidences based on the relation with criterion variables. We used the assumptions of the Classical Test Theory and modern psychometric methods with the application of the Rasch model. The construction process was guided with theoretical and methodological rigor indicated by the literature and has demonstrated favorable evidences of content validity. Evidences of validity based on internal structure, criterion-related validity and reliability were established. These results reinforce the potential of IDADI for multidimensional assessment of child development in the Brazilian context, both in clinical and research contexts. Future studies will be conducted to stablish norms for interpretation, to create a short version for use in child care programs and a child direct assessment version including developmental tasks.

The study explored the faculty adoption and use of a Blackboard at a community college in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. A cross-sectional survey design was constructed through the lens of Rogers’s Perceived Attributes of Innovations and Chickering and Ehrman’s Implementing Seven Principles: Technology as a Lever to investigate perceptions and opinions on faculty members’ use of Blackboard in their courses. The survey was piloted, modified and deployed to a population of 932 central Kentucky community college faculty who were recruited to participate in the online survey. Descriptive demographic items (gender, age, highest degree attained, years of teaching experience, employment status, and category of instruction) were cross-tabulated with users and nonusers of Blackboard. An additional cross-tabulation was performed on faculty who did and did not teach online. A Rasch analysis with Differential Item Functioning (DIF) was used to evaluate responses to the perceived attributes and opinions about the use of Blackboard. The Rasch model was employed since the model assumes that each person is characterized by ability, that each item of the survey is characterized by difficulty and that the results of differences in the probabilities of items and responses follow along a line. Misfit of items and faculty did occur and quality control measures were applied to the collected data. A Z-Residual table for the dichotomous items was applied to remove responses that were extreme or greater than 2 ZSTD. An Outfit plot for polytomous items was utilized to remove faculty responses above 3 ZSTD. Some items were determined to be redundant according to the Wright maps and Infit/Outfit tables. The results indicated 2 or 3 levels of discrimination in person reliability and an item separation that allowed an analysis of groups. Rogers’s perceived characteristics that persuade people to adopt a new innovation were indicated as differences between users and nonusers of Blackboard. In contrast to a previous study, those faculty who responded to the survey with 0-1 years of teaching experience had the greatest ratio of nonusers to users. Those respondents who associated their teaching to categories of pre-college and language had more nonusers than users of Blackboard. An overall theme where nonusers agreed more than users was the lack of seeing Blackboard, observing how to use Blackboard and not being able to properly try Blackboard. But users should also be encouraged to expand their use of Blackboard. The majority of users employed: syllabus, announcements, full grade center, course copy, and test and survey pool, but less than half who responded as users employed: discussion board, course calendar, and performance dashboard which may lead to increased communication between the faculty and students. The information obtained from the survey should be utilized when developing professional development activities to encourage Blackboard adoption and use. By studying the adoption and utilization of Blackboard by faculty through the lens of Rogers, the study highlighted differences in the characteristics that persuade faculty to use Blackboard. Through consistent utilization of course management systems, such as Blackboard, the hope is that communication between students and faculty will be enhanced which will ultimately help students to grow, develop and learn.

A prevalência de crianças com atrasos no desenvolvimento em um ou mais domínios varia entre 16 e 18% na literatura, mas estima-se que apenas 30% dos casos são detectados pelos profissionais de saúde. Em parte, este déficit na detecção se deve à falta de utilização de instrumentos de avaliação ou rastreio. No contexto brasileiro são poucos os instrumentos disponíveis para avaliar desenvolvimento infantil e, além disso, os que existem apresentam limitações. A presente tese teve como objetivo construir o Inventário Dimensional de Avaliação do Desenvolvimento Infantil (IDADI) para avaliação de crianças de zero a 72 meses com base no relato parental. Para a construção do IDADI, foram realizados três estudos. O Estudo I consistiu em uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar os instrumentos mais utilizados na avaliação dos marcos do desenvolvimento infantil e suas propriedades psicométricas. Ele forneceu as bases para a seleção dos domínios que integram o IDADI e para a construção de itens. O Estudo II realizou os procedimentos teóricos e metodológicos de construção do IDADI e a análise de evidências de validade de conteúdo. O Estudo III analisou as evidências de validade da estrutura interna do IDADI, a fidedignidade e as evidências de validade baseadas na relação com variáveis critério. Foram utilizados pressupostos da Teoria Clássica dos Testes e da psicometria moderna com a aplicação do modelo de Rasch. O processo de construção foi guiado com o rigor teórico e metodológico indicado pela literatura e apresentou evidências favoráveis de validade de conteúdo. Também foram comprovadas evidências de validade baseadas na estrutura interna, na relação com variáveis critério e de fidedignidade. Estes resultados fortalecem o potencial do IDADI para avaliação multidimensional do desenvolvimento infantil no contexto brasileiro, tanto na clínica como na pesquisa. Estudos futuros serão realizados para elaboração de normas de interpretação, de um inventário breve para utilização em programas de atenção infantil e de uma versão de tarefas para avaliação direta da criança. / The prevalence of children with developmental delays in one or more domains varies between 16 and 18% according to the literature, but it is estimated that only 30% of cases are detected by health professionals. In part, this deficit in detection is due to the lack of use of assessment or screening instruments. In the Brazilian context, there are few instruments available to evaluate child development, and, in addition, those that exist have some limitations. The purpose of this dissertation was to construct the Dimensional Inventory of Child Development Assessment (IDADI) to evaluate children from zero to 72 months based on parental report. For the construction of IDADI, three studies were carried out. Study I consisted of a systematic review of the literature to identify the most used instruments in assessing child developmental milestones and their psychometric properties. It has provided the basis for the selection of the domains that integrate IDADI and for the items construction. Study II have performed the theoretical and methodological procedures for the construction of IDADI and the analysis of content validity evidences. Study III have analyzed the evidences of validity for the internal structure of IDADI, reliability and validity evidences based on the relation with criterion variables. We used the assumptions of the Classical Test Theory and modern psychometric methods with the application of the Rasch model. The construction process was guided with theoretical and methodological rigor indicated by the literature and has demonstrated favorable evidences of content validity. Evidences of validity based on internal structure, criterion-related validity and reliability were established. These results reinforce the potential of IDADI for multidimensional assessment of child development in the Brazilian context, both in clinical and research contexts. Future studies will be conducted to stablish norms for interpretation, to create a short version for use in child care programs and a child direct assessment version including developmental tasks.

A prevalência de crianças com atrasos no desenvolvimento em um ou mais domínios varia entre 16 e 18% na literatura, mas estima-se que apenas 30% dos casos são detectados pelos profissionais de saúde. Em parte, este déficit na detecção se deve à falta de utilização de instrumentos de avaliação ou rastreio. No contexto brasileiro são poucos os instrumentos disponíveis para avaliar desenvolvimento infantil e, além disso, os que existem apresentam limitações. A presente tese teve como objetivo construir o Inventário Dimensional de Avaliação do Desenvolvimento Infantil (IDADI) para avaliação de crianças de zero a 72 meses com base no relato parental. Para a construção do IDADI, foram realizados três estudos. O Estudo I consistiu em uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar os instrumentos mais utilizados na avaliação dos marcos do desenvolvimento infantil e suas propriedades psicométricas. Ele forneceu as bases para a seleção dos domínios que integram o IDADI e para a construção de itens. O Estudo II realizou os procedimentos teóricos e metodológicos de construção do IDADI e a análise de evidências de validade de conteúdo. O Estudo III analisou as evidências de validade da estrutura interna do IDADI, a fidedignidade e as evidências de validade baseadas na relação com variáveis critério. Foram utilizados pressupostos da Teoria Clássica dos Testes e da psicometria moderna com a aplicação do modelo de Rasch. O processo de construção foi guiado com o rigor teórico e metodológico indicado pela literatura e apresentou evidências favoráveis de validade de conteúdo. Também foram comprovadas evidências de validade baseadas na estrutura interna, na relação com variáveis critério e de fidedignidade. Estes resultados fortalecem o potencial do IDADI para avaliação multidimensional do desenvolvimento infantil no contexto brasileiro, tanto na clínica como na pesquisa. Estudos futuros serão realizados para elaboração de normas de interpretação, de um inventário breve para utilização em programas de atenção infantil e de uma versão de tarefas para avaliação direta da criança. / The prevalence of children with developmental delays in one or more domains varies between 16 and 18% according to the literature, but it is estimated that only 30% of cases are detected by health professionals. In part, this deficit in detection is due to the lack of use of assessment or screening instruments. In the Brazilian context, there are few instruments available to evaluate child development, and, in addition, those that exist have some limitations. The purpose of this dissertation was to construct the Dimensional Inventory of Child Development Assessment (IDADI) to evaluate children from zero to 72 months based on parental report. For the construction of IDADI, three studies were carried out. Study I consisted of a systematic review of the literature to identify the most used instruments in assessing child developmental milestones and their psychometric properties. It has provided the basis for the selection of the domains that integrate IDADI and for the items construction. Study II have performed the theoretical and methodological procedures for the construction of IDADI and the analysis of content validity evidences. Study III have analyzed the evidences of validity for the internal structure of IDADI, reliability and validity evidences based on the relation with criterion variables. We used the assumptions of the Classical Test Theory and modern psychometric methods with the application of the Rasch model. The construction process was guided with theoretical and methodological rigor indicated by the literature and has demonstrated favorable evidences of content validity. Evidences of validity based on internal structure, criterion-related validity and reliability were established. These results reinforce the potential of IDADI for multidimensional assessment of child development in the Brazilian context, both in clinical and research contexts. Future studies will be conducted to stablish norms for interpretation, to create a short version for use in child care programs and a child direct assessment version including developmental tasks.

Mobility and Pathways to Autonomy of Women: A study of informal workers in fisheries sector in Kerala, India Mobility defined as the freedom and ability to move has intrinsic and instrumental values in promoting human development. Paid work which involves mobility associated with work can be a ‘capability-enhancing’ experience when such mobility improves opportunities and enhances freedoms. However, the existing studies have neither examined nor measured mobility with its multiple domains for women. My thesis fills this gap in research by exploring the multiple domains of gendered mobility by measuring mobility as a single construct and analysing whether mobility is a ‘capability’ for women workers which improves autonomy and agency. It is inter-disciplinary as it is situated at the confluence of development studies, human geography and sociological disciplines. The following features of the thesis make it unique in the development studies discipline. First, the contextual setting is unique as it is based in Kerala, which is a socially progressive state in India. The thesis unearths the underlying structural constraints in the Kerala model of social development for transformation of women workers under patriarchy. It is a comparative study which examines the household autonomy and agency of two types of informal women workers in the post-harvest fisheries, namely ‘peeling workers’ linked to production chains and ‘fish vendors’ who are self-employed. Second, the capability approach provides the theoretical framework for the analysis of mobility of women as capability and it introduces a new concept of ‘transformational mobility’. By examining mobility using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM) for the first time in development studies, the thesis operationalises capability measurement by introducing the measurement scale of mobility of women workers which empirically delineates the multiple domains of mobility based on the constraints faced by women. Third, the mixed methods research design using survey data and qualitative interviews of women workers provide better insight and contextual understanding of women’s work. An innovative method, namely, the Crisp set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (CsQCA), explores the causal mechanisms that bring about ‘transformational mobility’ in women workers. The thesis empirically proves the significance of social and human capital factors like caste, low education of spouse and marital status along with the underlying patriarchal structures that determine pathways to transformational mobility and decision making of women. Lastly, the qualitative analysis using classic grounded theory contributes to the emergence of substantive theories for women workers which reflect contrasting agentic behaviour of peeling workers and fish vendors in the context of Kerala. The lack of collective agency among peeling workers questions the claims of Kerala model of development in improving the agency of women. The findings confirm that work mobility associated with informal low paid work is not necessarily a capability for women in fisheries.

Als Konsequenz der besonderen Aufmerksamkeit nach der Veröffentlichung der Ergebnisse der ersten PISA-Studie, wurden auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen des deutschen Schulsystems evaluatorische Prozesse implementiert. In Deutschland fußen solche Messungen von Erträgen des Bildungssystems auf von der Konferenz aller Kultusminister (KMK) beschlossenen Bildungsstandards, die als Kompetenzstufenmodelle für die Messung operationalisiert wurden. Mit den Vergleichsarbeiten etablierte sich in Deutschland ein Verfahren, das die Ergebnisse solcher Messungen primär schulischen Rezipienten zur Verfügung stellt. Damit sich der intendierte Nutzen von Unterrichtsentwicklung realisiert, muss Validität im Sinne Kanes vorausgesetzt werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht dazu drei Aspekte des Validitätsarguments. Dies sind zum Ersten mit der Nutzungsperspektive eng verbundene psychometrische Anforderungen an das Instrument. Das vierte Kapitel untersucht dazu methodische Aspekte, welche als grundlegend für die Validität angesehen werden. Es werden Gewissheiten formuliert und in Frage gestellt, die für die Testkonstruktion, aber insbesondere für die Weiterarbeit mit den Testergebnissen in der Schule essentiell sind. Der Validität von Testwertinterpretationen über mehr als einen Messzeitpunkt widmet sich das fünfte Kapitel. Wegen der Art und Weise der Verknüpfung der Messskalen haben die Ergebnisse letztlich aber Relevanz für die Interpretation jeder Einzelmessung. Der dritte Aspekt von Nutzungsvoraussetzung wird im wohl meistzitierten Nutzungsmodell für die Vergleichsarbeiten von Helmke als technische Übermittlung der Rezeption untergeordnet und ist ein Element konsequenzieller Validität. Der Abruf von Rückmeldungen ist so trivial wie grundlegend und doch findet sich dazu im deutschsprachigen Raum nur eine einzige Veröffentlichung mit relevanten Daten. Die vorliegende Untersuchung ermöglicht erstmals einen dezidierten Einblick in diesen Aspekt der Nutzung von Vergleichsarbeiten. / As a consequence of the special attention following the release of the results of the first PISA-Study, evaluative processes were implemented at multiple different levels of the German educational system. In Germany, these empirical measurement of results are based on educational standards determined by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in Germany, which were operationalized for the measurements as competence level models. With the Vergleichsarbeiten, a process was established in Germany that continues these measurements of competency outcomes, but whose results are primarily made available to recipients in schools. To realize the intended use of data-based lesson as well as school development, validity in Kane’s sense is required. For that reason, this paper examines three aspects of the validity argument. On one hand, these are psychometric requirements for the instrument, which are highly dependend on the intended use. In this regard, the fourth chapter examines methodical aspects seen as fundamental for validity. Certainties are defined and questioned, that are essential for test construction, but also especially for working with the test results in lesson development. The fifth chapter is concerned with the validity of test result interpretations spanning multiple measurement times, but because of the way the scales of measurement are connected, the results end up being relevant to the interpretation of singular measurements as well. The third aspect is an element of consequentional validity which, as \emph{technical transmission}, is subordinated to reception, in the most cited usage model for the Vergleichsarbeiten by Helmke. The download of Feedback is as trivial as it is fundamental, yet (at least in the German-speaking world) only a single publication with relevant data can be found. This examination allows, for the first time, a dedicated look into this aspect of the Vergleicharbeiten’s usage.

Although classroom assessment is one of the most frequent practices carried out by teachers in all educational programs, limited research has been conducted to investigate the dependability and validity of criterion-referenced tests (CRTs). The main purpose of this study is to develop a criterion-referenced test for first-year Japanese university students in a general English program. To this end, four research questions are formulated: (a) To what extent do the criterion-referenced items function effectively?; (b) To what extent do the facets of persons, items, sections, classes, and subtests contribute to the total score variation in two CRT forms?; (c) To what extent are two CRT forms dependable when administered as pretests and posttests?; and (d) To what extent are two CRT forms valid when administered as pretests and posttests? Two CRT forms made up of vocabulary (k = 25), listening (k = 20), and reading (k = 25) subtests were administered to 249 students using a counterbalanced design. Criterion-referenced item analyses showed that most items were working well for criterion-referenced purposes. Both univariate and multivariate generalizability studies indicated that the most of the variance was accounted for by the interaction effect, followed by the items effect, and then by the persons effect. FACETS analyses showed the separation for all the facets accounted for in the analyses and showed that item separation was greater than person separation. This indicated that the students' ability estimates were similar due to their having taken a placement test, whose results were used to form proficiency-based classes. Both univariate and multivariate decision studies indicated that the CRT forms were moderately to highly dependable. The content validity of the CRT forms was supported because the test content was strongly linked to what was taught in class. The construct validity was supported mainly because a fair amount of score gain was observed. This study elucidates how the statistical analyses used in this study can be applied to CRT development, and how CRT development can be carried out as part of curriculum development. / Educational Administration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of metalinguistic knowledge and language learning aptitude on second language (L2) procedural knowledge. Three lines of inquiry were undertaken: (a) confirming the factorial structure of metalinguistic knowledge and language learning aptitude; (b) testing the relative effects of metalinguistic knowledge and language learning aptitude on L2 procedural knowledge; and (c) assessing the relative contributions of receptive and productive metalinguistic knowledge and components of language learning aptitude to L2 procedural knowledge. Two-hundred-forty-nine Japanese university students participated. One receptive and two productive tests of metalinguistic knowledge related to metalinguistic terminology and English grammatical rules were administered. Learners' language learning aptitude was measured using the Lunic Language Marathon, which consisted of four scales: number learning, sound-symbol association, vocabulary learning, and language analytical ability. Participants' L2 procedural knowledge was assessed through performance on a timed writing task. The writing samples were scored for overall quality, L2 complexity, accuracy, and fluency. The scores from each test were subjected to Rasch analyses to investigate the construct validity and unidimensionality of the instruments. The results of the Rasch analyses indicated that the test items fit the Rasch model, supporting the construct validity of the instruments. The unidimensionality of each instrument was established through Rasch principal component analyses. Interval-level Rasch measures were used for the subsequent analyses. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that metalinguistic knowledge and language learning aptitude were distinct constructs. A two-factor model showed good model fit and explained the relationship between the two constructs. Structural equation modeling revealed that metalinguistic knowledge significantly predicted L2 procedural knowledge, complexity, accuracy, and fluency. Language learning aptitude, however, was not a statistically significant predictor of the L2 procedural knowledge variables. The results of a path model analysis indicated that productive metalinguistic knowledge was the strongest predictor of L2 procedural knowledge, language analytical ability predicted receptive metalinguistic knowledge, and number learning was negatively associated with L2 procedural knowledge. The findings point to the facilitative role of metalinguistic knowledge in L2 learning and the viability of L2 declarative knowledge becoming proceduralized through practice. / Applied Linguistics

This study empirically compares the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and the Partial Credit Model (PCM) of Rasch focusing on the invariance of item parameters. The invariance concept which is the consequence of the principle of specific objectivity was tested in both CTT and PCM using the results of learners who wrote the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Mathematics examinations in 2010. The difficulty levels of the test items were estimated from the independent samples of learn- ers. The same sample of learners used in the calibration of the difficulty levels of the test items in the PCM model were also used in the calibration of the difficulty levels of the test items in CTT model. The estimates of the difficulty levels of the test items were done using RUMM2030 in the case of PCM while SAS was used in the case of CTT. RUMM2030 and SAS are both the statistical softwares. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the four different design groups of test takers. In cases where the ANOVA showed a significant difference between the means of the design groups, the Tukeys groupings was used to establish where the difference came from. The research findings were that the test items' difficulty parameter estimates based on the CTT theoretical framework were not invariant across the different independent sample groups. The over- all findings from this study were that the CTT theoretical framework was unable to produce item difficulty invariant parameter estimates. The PCM estimates were very stable in the sense that for most of the items, there was no significant difference between the means of at least three design groups and the one that deviated from the rest did not deviate that much. The item parameters of the group that was representative of the population (proportional allocation) and the one where the same number of learners (50 learners) was taken from different performance categories did not differ significantly for all the items except for item 6.6 in examination question paper 2. It is apparent that for the test item parameters to be invariant of the group of test takers in PCM, the group of test takers must be heterogeneous and each performance category needed to be big enough for the proper calibration of item parameters. The higher values of the estimated item parameters in CTT were consistently found in the sample that was dominated by the high proficient learners in Mathematics ("bad") and the lowest values were consistently calculated in the design group that was dominated by the less proficient learners. This phenomenon was not apparent in the Rasch model. / Mathematical Sciences / M.Sc. (Statistics)