Competitive learning using a three-parameter logistic model

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the test applied at the eighth Statistics II tournament to students from the University Center for Economic and Administrative Sciences of the University of Guadalajara, for the purpose of determining whether it promotes competitive learning among students. To achieve this, Item Response Theory (IRT) is used, specifically in the form of a three-parameter logistic model. The findings show that approximately 20 % of the participating students performed at a level ranging from outstanding to satisfactory, while the rest had a performance that fell between regular and poor. The findings also indicate that participating students were motivated by academic competition and the opportunity to improve their skills in the area of statistics. Moreover, we concluded that the tournament's assessment instruments need to be substantially improved in terms of design and the content of the items.