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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Computerized Adaptive Testing System of Functional Assessment of Stroke
Published on: January 7, 2019
Measurement precision and efficiency of multidimensional computer adaptive testing of physical functioning using the
Stephen M Haley1, Pengsheng Ni, Larry H Ludlow
1Health and Disability Research Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA. smhaley@bu.edu
Objective:
To compare the measurement efficiency and precision of a multidimensional computer adaptive testing (M-CAT) application to a unidimensional CAT (U-CAT) comparison using item bank data from 2 of the functional skills scales of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).
Design:
Using existing PEDI mobility and self-care item banks, we compared the stability of item calibrations and model fit between unidimensional and multidimensional Rasch models and compared the efficiency and precision of the U-CAT- and M-CAT-simulated assessments to a random draw of items.
Setting:
Pediatric rehabilitation hospital and clinics.
Participants:
Clinical and normative samples.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Not applicable.
Results:
The M-CAT had greater levels of precision and efficiency than the separate mobility and self-care U-CAT versions when using a similar number of items for each PEDI subdomain. Equivalent estimation of mobility and self-care scores can be achieved with a 25% to 40% item reduction with the M-CAT compared with the U-CAT.
Conclusions:
M-CAT applications appear to have both precision and efficiency advantages compared with separate U-CAT assessments when content subdomains have a high correlation. Practitioners may also realize interpretive advantages of reporting test score information for each subdomain when separate clinical inferences are desired.
