An Analysis Of The Competence Dimensionality Of HSK

In this thesis we give an exploratory use and research on multidimensional item response theory. On the basis of previous research works, we select a pair of representative two-dimensional IRT models: the compensatory MIRT model and non-compensatory MIRT model. With these two models, we do an experimental research on the scores of 90 items that 1548 subjects took in one certain HSK test. The first postulation of our research is that there lies two competence dimensions in the competence which the items intended to test. We name the two dimensions as reading competence dimension and Chinese characters competence dimension. The second is these two dimensions are compensated each other. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method is practiced to estimate the parameters. We give three kinds of analysis on all of the parameters calculated and our postulations are finally verified to some extent.