Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bergner, Yoav, Halpin, Peter F., Vie, Jill-Jênn
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.00909
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866913638272466944
author Bergner, Yoav
Halpin, Peter F.
Vie, Jill-Jênn
author_facet Bergner, Yoav
Halpin, Peter F.
Vie, Jill-Jênn
contents This paper presents a machine learning approach to multidimensional item response theory (MIRT), a class of latent factor models that can be used to model and predict student performance from observed assessment data. Inspired by collaborative filtering, we define a general class of models that includes many MIRT models. We discuss the use of penalized joint maximum likelihood (JML) to estimate individual models and cross-validation to select the best performing model. This model evaluation process can be optimized using batching techniques, such that even sparse large-scale data can be analyzed efficiently. We illustrate our approach with simulated and real data, including an example from a massive open online course (MOOC). The high-dimensional model fit to this large and sparse dataset does not lend itself well to traditional methods of factor interpretation. By analogy to recommender-system applications, we propose an alternative "validation" of the factor model, using auxiliary information about the popularity of items consulted during an open-book exam in the course.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2301_00909
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Multidimensional Item Response Theory in the Style of Collaborative Filtering
Bergner, Yoav
Halpin, Peter F.
Vie, Jill-Jênn
Machine Learning
This paper presents a machine learning approach to multidimensional item response theory (MIRT), a class of latent factor models that can be used to model and predict student performance from observed assessment data. Inspired by collaborative filtering, we define a general class of models that includes many MIRT models. We discuss the use of penalized joint maximum likelihood (JML) to estimate individual models and cross-validation to select the best performing model. This model evaluation process can be optimized using batching techniques, such that even sparse large-scale data can be analyzed efficiently. We illustrate our approach with simulated and real data, including an example from a massive open online course (MOOC). The high-dimensional model fit to this large and sparse dataset does not lend itself well to traditional methods of factor interpretation. By analogy to recommender-system applications, we propose an alternative "validation" of the factor model, using auxiliary information about the popularity of items consulted during an open-book exam in the course.
title Multidimensional Item Response Theory in the Style of Collaborative Filtering
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.00909