Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Cited over 1900 times, this classic text facilitates a deep understanding of the Rasch model. The authors review the crucial properties of the model and demonstrate its use with a variety of examples from education, psychology, and health. A glossary and numerous illustrations aid the reader's understanding. Readers learn how to apply Rasch analysis so they can perform their own analyses and interpret the results. The authors present an accessible overview that does not require a mathematical background. Highlights of the new edition include: -More learning tools to strengthen readers' understanding including chapter introductions, boldfaced key terms, chapter summaries, activities, and suggested readings. -Divided chapters (4, 6, 7 & 8) into basic and extended understanding sections so readers can select the level most appropriate for their needs and to provide more in-depth investigations of key topics. -A website at www.routledge.com/9780415833424 that features free Rasch software, data sets, an Invariance worksheet, detailed instructions for key analyses, and links to related sources. -Greater emphasis on the role of Rasch measurement as a priori in the construction of scales and its use post hoc to reveal the extent to which interval scale measurement is instantiated in existing data sets. -Emphasizes the importance of interval level measurement data and demonstrates how Rasch measurement is used to examine measurement invariance. -Insights from other Rasch scholars via innovative applications (Ch. 9). -Extended discussion of invariance now reviews DIF, DPF, and anchoring (ch. 5). -Revised Rating Scale Model material now based on the analysis of the CEAQ (ch.6)"--