Consider the extreme quantile region induced by the half-space depth function HD of the form Q D {x 2 R d : HD.x, P/ β}, such that P Q D p for a given, very small p > 0. Since this involves extrapolation outside the data cloud, this region can hardly be estimated through a fully non-parametric procedure. Using extreme value theory we construct a natural semiparametric estimator of this quantile region and prove a refined consistency result. A simulation study clearly demonstrates the good performance of our estimator. We use the procedure for risk management by applying it to stock market returns.
Mixed-format tests containing both multiple-choice (MC) items and constructed-response (CR) items are used in many testing programs. The use of multiple formats presents a number of measurement challenges, one of which is how to adequately equate mixed-format tests under the common-item nonequivalent groups (CINEG) design, especially when, due to practical constraints, the common-item set contains only MC items. The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate how equating properties were preserved for mixed-format tests under the CINEG design.Real data analyses were conducted on 22 equating linkages of 39 mixed-format tests from the Advanced Placement (AP) Examination program. Four equating methods were used: the frequency estimation (FE) method, the chained equipercentile (CE) method, item response theory (IRT) true score equating, and IRT observed score equating.In addition, cubic spline postsmoothing was used with the FE and CE methods. The factors of investigation were the correlation between MC and CR scores, the proportion of common items, the proportion of MC-item score points, and the similarity between alternate forms. Results were evaluated using three equating properties: first-order equity, second-order equity, and the same distributions property.The main findings from this dissertation were as follows: (1) Between the two IRT equating methods, true score equating better preserved first-order equity than observed score equating, and observed score equating better preserved second-order Copyright by YI HE 2011 All Rights Reserved Graduate College
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