Item characteristic curves can inform us of important underlying features of the measurement items that we use. One property of item characteristic curves is the guessing parameter. This parameter reflects:
A) the probability that respondents of the highest ability will be able to guess the correct response to an item
B) the proportion of error in respondents' responses to a specific item
C) the probability that respondents of the lowest ability will be able to guess the correct response to an item
D) the percentage of respondents who will guess the correct answer, regardless of ability level

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The guessing parameter in item characteristic curves reflects the probability that respondents of the lowest ability will be able to guess the correct response to an item. This means that even individuals who lack knowledge in the area being measured may still have a chance of answering the question correctly through random guessing.

Item Characteristic Curves Can Inform Us of Important Underlying Features