The Application Of IRT Unfolding Model In Assessment Of Professional Quality For University Teachers

Objective: Construct Test of Professional Quality for University Teachers(TPQUT) with theory of IRT Unfolding Model and test the level of university teachers' professional quality.Method: 1. Test-constructing was based on theoretical and experiential strategies. The primary structure and content of the test were proposed by drawing forefathers' study and surveying students and teachers with open-end questionnaire. 2. GGUM(Generalized Graded Unfolding Model) was used in item analysis, including item location, item discrimination and item&test information function, validity analysis was also conducted (including content validity, constructive validity and criterion validity). 3.The lie-detection scale was used in screening subjects. 4. Statistical test was conducted within university teachers with TPQUT.Result: 1.TPQUT was composed of 43 items including three subtests(Knowledge Quality, Ability Quality and Attitude Quality), and eight subscales (Professional Knowledge, General Knowledge, Teaching Ability, Researching Ability, Cultivating Ability, Personal Characteristic and Working Attitude). 2.Psychological measurement analysis showed that item location lied between (-4,4), item discriminations were all more than 0.5, TIF (test information function) was more than 25, CFA (confirmative factor analysis) proved good constructive validity, and criterion validity also met the demand. 3.The levels of professional quality for university teachers were nearly at 4th grade, and the differences were significant among schools, professional titles and teaching ages, but not significant among majors and in gender.Conclusion: 1.The structure of the test is reasonable and reaches the basic demand of measurement standards, and the test can be used to detect levels of professional quality of university teachers. 2.The levels of professional quality for university teachers are high. 3. The scores of test, subtests and subscales have significant differences among schools, professional titles and teaching ages but no significant differences among majors and in gender. 4. IRT Unfolding model can be used in constructing test.