This handbook reviews classic and emerging IRT methods and applications that are revolutionizing psychological measurement, particularly for health outcome assessments used to demonstrate treatment effectiveness. Conceptual and statistical issues confronting researchers in psychology, education, and medicine are addressed including multidimensional and explanatory models. World renowned contributors offer examples using real data, some from NIH-PROMIS. The book reviews the most significant IRT models and the obstacles that arise in their application. Each chapter reviews the current literature and describes related research methods, applies the material, and suggests future directions.

Part 1: Fundamental Issues in Item Response Theory 1. Introduction: Age-Old Problems and Modern Solutions S.P. Reise, D.A. Revicki 2. Evaluating the Impact of Multidimensionality on Unidimensional Item Response Theory Model Parameters S.P. Reise, K.F. Cook, T.M. Moore 3. Modern Approaches to Parameter Estimation in Item Response Theory L. Cai, D. Thissen 4. Estimating the Latent Density in Unidimensional IRT to Permit Nonnormality C.M. Woods 5. The Use of Nonparametric Item Response Theory to Explore Data Quality R.R. Meijer, J.N. Tendeiro, R.B. K. Wanders 6. Evaluating the Fit of IRT models A. Maydeu-Olivares 7. Assessing Person Fit in Typical-Response Measures P. J. Ferrando Part 2: Classic and Emerging IRT Modeling Approaches 8. Three (or Four) Factors, Four (or Three) Models M.C. Edwards, R. J. Wirth, C.R. Houts, A.J. Bodine 9. Using Hierarchical IRT Models to Create Unidimensional Measures from Multidimensional Data B.D. Stucky, M.O. Edelen 10. An Illustration of the Two-Tier Item Factor Analysis Model W.E. Bonifay 11. Using Projected Locally Dependent Unidimensional Models to Measure Multidimensional Response Data E.H. Ip, S. Chen 12. Multidimensional Explanatory Item Response Modeling P.D. Boeck, M. Wilson 13. Unipolar Item Response Models J.F. Lucke 14. Selecting Among Polytomous IRT Models R. Ostini, M. Finkelman, M. Nering Part 3: Using IRT Models in Applied Problems 15. Scoring and Estimating Score Precision Using Multidimensional IRT Models A. Brown, T.J. Croudace 16. Developing Item Banks for Patient-Reported Health Outcomes D.A. Revicki, W. Chen, C. Tucker 17. Using Item Response Theory to Evaluate Measurement Invariance in Health-Related Measures R.E. Millsap, H. Gunn, H.T. Everson, A. Zautra 18. Detecting Faulty Within-Item Category Functioning with the Nominal Response Model K.S. J. Preston, S.P. Reise 19. Multidimensional Test Linking J.P. Weeks 20. IRT for Growth and Change J.J. McArdle, K.T. Petway, E.S. Hishinuma 21. Summary: New IRT Problems and Future Directions S.P. Reise, D.A. Revicki

Steven P. Reise is a full professor in Quantitative Psychology at UCLA.

Dennis A. Revicki is Senior Vice President of health outcomes research at Evidera and an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina, University of Florida, and Georgetown University.