Mokken Scale Analysis: Theoretical Considerations and an Application to Transitivity Tasks

This study provides a discussion and an application of Mokken scale analysis. Mokken scale analysis can be characterized as a nonparametric item response theory approach. The Mokken approach to scaling consists of two different item response models, the model of monotone homogeneity and the more restrictive model of double monotonicity. Methods for empirical data analysis using the two Mokken model versions are discussed. Both dichotomous and polytomous item scores can be analyzed by means of Mokken scale analysis. Three empirical data sets pertaining to transitive inference items were analyzed using the Mokken approach. The results are compared with the results obtained from a Rasch analysis.