The Development Of Chinese Verbal Capability Test For Enlistees Based On Item Response Theory

Under the modern warfare condition, the military personnel have to face more challenge and stress than before. As the main part of army, the capability of soldiers determines the army's battle effectiveness and whole performance. As the basic structure of intelligence, verbal capability is always the important research field in all developed countries, and it is also one of the main components of many classical intelligence tests. Therefore, it is of importance to add verbal capability test in our national recruitment, and it has very meaningful effect on the quality of soldiers and battle effectiveness of army. Item Response Theory is a new psychometric theory and it has the potential to alternate the classical theory owning to its outstanding advantages. The main purpose of this study is to develop a series vernal capability test based on IRT, serving as an instrument in the soldier psychological screen process for enhancing the soldiers'quality in PLA.Main content and procedure are as follows:1. Determining the thought,principle method and whole procedure through literature review,consultation of experts and investigation of the current situation of nationwide conscription.2. Targeting on the shortage of current Chinese Vocabulary Reasoning Test, to develop the Verbal Capability Test based on the IRT and related theory of verbal test.3. Analyzing the feasibility of developing verbal capability test based on paper and pencil pilot test.4. Developing 20 verbal capability tests after modification and enlargement in term of the results of pilot test.5. Aadministering the 20 Verbal Capability Tests in 2008 national recruitment by taking Three Parameter Logistic model and center-radiating anchor test design. Then to select the final good items after analysis based on classical test theory and IRT.6. Testing the validity of the verbal capability test by taking the verbal test in WAIS as criteria of validity.Main results of the study are as follows.1. The series of Verbal Capability Tests were developed successfully, and the computer-based test has also been finished and in use.2. All parameters of items and ability can be calibrated through anchor items test score equation by marginal maximum likelihood estimation and Bayessian expected a posterior estimation, respectively.3. The majority of discrimination parameters and gussing parameters were appropriate, and the threshold parameters were acceptable. Both item information function and test information function were pretty good.4. The Verbal Capability Tests have significant positive correlation with both task performance subscales of Soldier Performance Assessment Scale and four verbal subtests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.5. The items were adequate and all item parameter had be calibrated, therefore, the condition of develop large Item Bank of Verbal Capability Test is matured.