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Rasch is a mathematical model that allows researchers to compare data that measure a unidimensional trait or ability (Bond & Fox, 2007). When data fit the Rasch model, it is mathematically proven that the item difficulty estimates are independent of the sample of respondents. The purpose of this study was to test the robustness of the Rasch model with regards to its ability to maintain invariant item difficulty estimates when real (data that does not perfectly fit the Rasch model), polytomous scored data is used. The data used in this study comes from a university alumni questionnaire that was collected over a period of five years. The analysis tests for significant variation between (a) small samples taken from a larger sample, (b) a base sample and subsequent (longitudinal) samples and (c) variation over time with confounding variables. The confounding variables studied include (a) the gender of the respondent and (b) the respondent's type of major at the time of graduation. The study used three methods to assess variation: (a) the between-fit statistic, (b) confidence intervals around the mean of the estimates and (c) a general linear model. The general linear model used the person residual statistic from the Winsteps' person output file as a dependent variable with year, gender and type of major as independent variables. Results of the study support the invariant nature of the item difficulty estimates when polytomous data from the alumni questionnaire is used. The analysis found comparable results (within sampling error) for the between-fit statistics and the general linear model. The confidence interval method was limited in its usefulness due to small confidence bands and the limitation of the plots. The linear model offered the most valuable data in that it provides methods to not only detect the existence of variation but to assess the relative magnitude of the variation from different sources. Recommendations for future research include studies regarding the impact of sample size on the between-fit statistic and confidence intervals as well as the impact of large amounts of systematic missing data on the item parameter estimates.

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This study is an investigation of Japanese university English language teachers' self-efficacy beliefs. Research has established that teachers' self-efficacy has considerable influence on a wide variety of teaching practices. However, in the English as a Foreign Language domain, and more specifically at the university level in Japan, self-efficacy beliefs have hardly ever been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' self-efficacy beliefs based on the teachers' native language, teaching experience, contract and tenured status, and gender. Furthermore, the sources of these beliefs, how they are strengthened, and how they are challenged were also explored. In order to provide answers to these questions, the Japanese University Language Teachers' Efficacy Beliefs Scale (JULTEBS), a new instrument measuring language teacher self-efficacy was validated using the Rasch rating-scale model as well as a confirmatory factor analysis. A triangulation strategy mixed-method design was employed in which the collection and analysis of data from the quantitative survey was completed in addition to the collection and analysis of data from qualitative open-ended interviews. A profile analysis, a special application of a MANOVA, was conducted to check the hypotheses for parallelism, levelness, and flatness of the self-efficacy scores among the various groups of respondents. The four self-efficacy variables that were measured were Efficacy in Student Engagement, Efficacy in Instructional Strategies, Efficacy in Classroom Management, and Efficacy in Dealing with Superiors. Semi-structured interviews were also employed to help determine what potentially strengthens and weakens the self-efficacy beliefs of English language teachers. The results showed that native English language teachers perceived themselves to be more efficacious than Japanese English teachers across all four self-efficacy variables. Additionally, more experienced teachers exhibited higher self-efficacy beliefs than less experienced teachers. Tenured teachers and limited-term contract teachers showed similar levels of self-efficacy on all variables except for Efficacy in Dealing with Superiors, where tenured teachers rated themselves higher than contract teachers. Furthermore, male and female teachers showed no statistically significant differences across all four self-efficacy variables. Finally, four themes (Autonomy, Colleagues, Money, and Students) emerged as qualities that could support teachers' self-efficacy, whereas three themes (Administration, Students, and Limited-term Contracts) surfaced as qualities that could weaken teachers' self-efficacy. The findings of this study not only highlight the importance of teacher self-efficacy, but also provide valuable insights into the beliefs of English language teachers, as well as the current state of affairs for these teachers at Japanese universities. / Applied Linguistics

Yes / Purpose There is a high level of over-referral from primary eye care leading to significant numbers of people without ocular pathology (false positives) being referred to secondary eye care. The present study used a psychometric instrument to determine whether there is a psychological burden on patients due to referral to secondary eye care, and used Rasch analysis to convert the data from an ordinal to an interval scale. Design Cross sectional study. Participants and Controls 322 participants and 80 control participants. Methods State (i.e. current) and trait (i.e. propensity to) anxiety were measured in a group of patients referred to a hospital eye department in the UK and in a control group who have had a sight test but were not referred. Response category analysis plus infit and outfit Rasch statistics and person separation indices were used to determine the usefulness of individual items and the response categories. Principal components analysis was used to determine dimensionality. Main Outcome Measure Levels of state and trait anxiety measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results State anxiety scores were significantly higher in the patients referred to secondary eye care than the controls (p<0.04), but similar for trait anxiety (p>0.1). Rasch analysis highlighted that the questionnaire results needed to be split into “anxiety-absent” and “anxiety-present” items for both state and trait anxiety, but both subscales showed the same profile of results between patients and controls. Conclusions State anxiety was shown to be higher in patients referred to secondary eye care than the controls, and at similar levels to people with moderate to high perceived susceptibility to breast cancer. This suggests that referral from primary to secondary eye care can result in a significant psychological burden on some patients. / University of Bradford

This written thesis gives an account of the creative production of Two Fingers: Michael's Struggle, a twenty-nine minute documentary video that explores the life of Michael Alan Rasch who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It explains in detail the process of pre-production, production, and post-production of the documentary. It also discuses the integration of theories applied in the documentary. Two Fingers shows that although Michael has lived with the disease almost his entire life, his perspective and attitude are more about living and enjoying life. Through it, the filmmaker intends the viewer to gain a tremendously important lesson about the human spirit.

A neuropatia motora multifocal (NMM) é uma doença rara, que compromete as fibras nervosas motoras e que pode levar a incapacidades de gravidade variável, provavelmente na dependência do seu diagnóstico e tratamento precoces. O uso de imunoglobulina humana por via endovenosa em altas doses é considerado o tratamento mais eficaz para NMM. A objetivação das incapacidades funcionais que a NMM provoca e da sua reversão parcial ou completa em decorrência do tratamento ou de sua evolução não tem sido uniforme. Tais dificuldades se devem ao fato de que os instrumentos utilizados para a mensuração das incapacidades têm sido variados e não uniformes. A escala global de avaliação das incapacidades na neuropatia motora multifocal construída pelo método Rasch (GIR - MNN) ou Multifocal Motor Neuropathy - Rasch-built Overal Disability Scale (MMN-RODS©) foi desenvolvida especificamente para a avaliação das incapacidades funcionais dos pacientes com NMM. Em recente estudo, multicêntrico, foi verificado que a MMN-RODS©, originalmente desenvolvida em inglês, preenche as expectativas do modelo de Rasch. Para aplicação no Brasil, o presente trabalho realizou a tradução, a adaptação transcultural, conforme metodologia descrita na literatura, e a aplicação da escala em pacientes com Neuropatia Motora Multifocal / Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) is a rare disease that involves the motor nerve fibers. A better prognosis for MMN is probably linked to early diagnoses and treatment. Even so, MMN can lead to severe incapacities. The use of intravenous high doses of human immunoglobulin (IgIV) is considered efficacious to treat MMN. The objectification of the incapacities provoked by MNN, their evolution, and partial or complete deficits reversion due to the treatment has not been standardized. This lack of uniformity is due to the variety of tools used for the measurement of the deficits in MMN. The multifocal motor neuropathy - Raschbuilt overall disability scale (MMN-RODS©) was developed specifically for evaluation of the functional incapacities in MNN patients. In a recent multicentric study, it was verified that MMN-RODS© fulfill the expectations of the Rasch method. The present work realized the translation, transcultural adaptation and validation of the scale to the Brazilian Portuguese context aiming to use this tool to evaluate MMN patients living in Brazil