The irtQ R package: a user-friendly tool for item response theory-based test data analysis and calibration.

Abstract

Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) has become a widely adopted test design for high-stakes licensing and certification exams, particularly in the health professions in the United States, due to its ability to tailor test difficulty in real time, reducing testing time while providing precise ability estimates. A key component of CAT is item response theory (IRT), which facilitates the dynamic selection of items based on examinees' ability levels during a test. Accurate estimation of item and ability parameters is essential for successful CAT implementation, necessitating convenient and reliable software to ensure precise parameter estimation. This paper introduces the irtQ R package, which simplifies IRT-based analysis and item calibration under unidimensional IRT models. While it does not directly simulate CAT, it provides essential tools to support CAT development, including parameter estimation using marginal maximum likelihood estimation via the expectation-maximization algorithm, pretest item calibration through fixed item parameter calibration and fixed ability parameter calibration methods, and examinee ability estimation. The package also enables users to compute item and test characteristic curves and information functions necessary for evaluating the psychometric properties of a test. This paper illustrates the key features of the irtQ package through examples using simulated datasets, demonstrating its utility in IRT applications such as test data analysis and ability scoring. By providing a user-friendly environment for IRT analysis, irtQ significantly enhances the capacity for efficient adaptive testing research and operations. Finally, the paper highlights additional core functionalities of irtQ, emphasizing its broader applicability to the development and operation of IRT-based assessments.