2nd Edition

Item Response Theory Foundations for Psychologists and Social Scientists

By Susan E. Embretson, Steven P. Reise Copyright 2026
438 Pages 109 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

438 Pages 109 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

438 Pages 109 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book provides an intuitive and accessible introduction to item response theory (IRT), making complex psychometric concepts easier to grasp through graphical displays and familiar analogies. It bridges theory and application, helping readers interpret and implement IRT models effectively to improve measurement quality in psychology and the social sciences. Covering both foundational and... Read more

Preface

Acknowledgments

Section I. Introduction

1. Background and History

2. Advantages of Item Response Theory

3. Item Response Theory as Model-Based Measurement

Section II. Basic Item Response Theory Models

4. Binary Item Response Theory Models

5. Polytomous Item Response Theory Models

Section III. Estimating Item Parameters and Scoring Persons

6. Measuring Persons

7. Estimating Item Parameters

8. Testing Assumptions and Assessing Fit

Section IV. Applications of Item Response Theory Models in Test Development and Assessment

9. Properties of Item Response Theory Scales

10. Differential Item Functioning, Computerized Adaptive Testing and Scale Analysis

11. An Overview of Item Response Theory-Related Computer Software

Section V. Advanced Item Response Theory Models

12. Multidimensional Item Response Theory Models

13. Explanatory, Mixture and Other Advanced Item Response Theory Models

Biography

Susan E. Embretson is Professor Emeritus at both the University of Kansas and the Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Her primary interest includes developing and applying item response theory (IRT) models for the response processes used by examinees to solve aptitude items.

Steven P. Reise received his Ph.D. from the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1990. Currently, he is Professor of Quantitative Psychology at UCLA. His research explores the application of item response theory (IRT) models to personality, psychopathology, and health outcome measures. In recent years, his interests have centered on bifactor modeling and projective IRT models.