Empirical recovery of argumentation learning progressions in scenario-based assessments of English language arts

We investigate methods for studying learning progressions in English language arts using data from scenario-based assessments. Particularly, our interest lies in the empirical recovery of learning progressions in argumentation for middle school students. We collected data on three parallel assessment forms that consist of scenario-based task sets with multiple item formats, where students randomly took two of the three assessments. We fitted several item response theory models, and used model-based measures to classify students into levels of the argumentation learning progression. Although there were some differences in difficulty between parallel tasks, good agreement was found among the classifications of the parallel forms. Overall, we managed to recover empirically the order of the levels in the argumentation learning progression as they were assigned to tasks of the assessments by the theoretical framework.