Investigating latent constructs with item response models: A MATLAB IRTm toolbox

Abstract

Item response theory (IRT) models are the central tools in modern measurement and advanced psychometrics. We offer a MATLAB IRT modeling (IRTm) toolbox that is freely available and that follows an explicit design matrix approach, giving the end user control and flexibility in building a model that goes beyond standard models, such as the Rasch model (Rasch, 1960) and the two-parameter logistic model. As such, IRTm allows for a large variety of unidimensional IRT models for binary responses, the incorporation of additional person and item information, and deviations from common model assumptions. An exclusive key feature of the toolbox is the inclusion of copula IRT models to handle local item dependencies. Two appendixes for this report, containing example code and information on the general copula IRT in IRTm, may be downloaded from brm.psychonomic-journajs.org/content/supplemental. © 2009 The Psychonomic Society, Inc.