Can High-Dimensional Questionnaires Resolve the Ipsativity Issue of Forced-Choice Response Formats?

• Published in: Educational and psychological measurement Vol. 81; no. 2; pp. 262 - 289
• Main Authors: Schulte, Niklas, Holling, Heinz, Bürkner, Paul-Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2021; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Item Response Theory; Measurement Techniques; Questionnaires; Rating Scales; Sample Size; Scoring; Test Format; Test Items; Test Reliability; Thurstonian IRT model; forced-choice format; multidimensional IRT; ipsative data
• ISSN: 0013-1644; 1552-3888
• DOI: 10.1177/0013164420934861

Forced-choice questionnaires can prevent faking and other response biases typically associated with rating scales. However, the derived trait scores are often unreliable and ipsative, making interindividual comparisons in high-stakes situations impossible. Several studies suggest that these problems vanish if the number of measured traits is high. To determine the necessary number of traits under varying sample sizes, factor loadings, and intertrait correlations, simulations were performed for the two most widely used scoring methods, namely the classical (ipsative) approach and Thurstonian item response theory (IRT) models. Results demonstrate that while especially Thurstonian IRT models perform well under ideal conditions, both methods yield insufficient reliabilities in most conditions resembling applied contexts. Moreover, not only the classical estimates but also the Thurstonian IRT estimates for questionnaires with equally keyed items remain (partially) ipsative, even when the number of traits is very high (i.e., 30). This result not only questions earlier assumptions regarding the use of classical scores in high-dimensional questionnaires, but it also raises doubts about many validation studies on Thurstonian IRT models because correlations of (partially) ipsative scores with external criteria cannot be interpreted in a usual way.