Conceptual Notes on Models for Discrete Polytomous Item Responses

The following types of discrete item responses are distinguished : nominal-dichotomous, ordinal-dichotomous, nominal-polytomous, and ordinal-polytomous. Bock (1972) presented a model for nominal-polytomous item responses that, when applied to dichotomous responses, yields Birnbaum's (1968) two-parameter logistic model. Applying Bock's model to ordinal-polytomous items leads to a conceptual problem. The ordinal nature of the response variable must be preserved; this can be achieved using three different methods. A number of existing models are derived using these three methods. The structure of these models is similar, but they differ in the interpretation and qualities of their parameters. Informa-tion, parameter invariance, log-odds differences invariance, and model violation also are discussed. Information and parameter invariance of dichotomous item response theory (nt'r) also apply to polytomous IRT. Specific objectivity of the Rasch model for dichotomous items is a special case of log-odds differences invariance of polytomous items. Differential item functioning of dichotomous IRT is a special case of measurement model violation of polytomous IRT. Index terms: adjacent categories, continuation ratios, cumulative probabilities, differential item functioning, log-odds differences invariance, measurement model violation, parameter invariance, polytomous IRT models.