Essentials of Visual Diagnosis of Test Items. Logical, Illogical, and Anomalous Patterns in Tests Items to be Detected

Abstract

<p>This article discusses visual techniques for detecting test items that would be optimal to be selected to the final—compilation on the one hand and, on the other hand, to out-select those items that would lower the quality of the compilation. Some classic visual tools are discussed, first, in a practical manner in diagnosing the logical, illogical, and anomalous patterns in item responses, and, second, a new way of illustrating the behavior of the items, cut-off curve, is introduced. All the illustrations in the article are accessible even without specific software packages; they are made by using basic spreadsheet software.<br></p>