Comparison of Validity and Reliability of Two Tests Developed by Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory

Abstract

In constructing the test process after preliminary test try outs two tests have been developed by
Classical Test and Item Response Theories. The aim of the research is to compare psychometric characteristics of
the item selection of these two tests. The data has been collected from a study group selected from 6th, 7th and
8th grades of elementary school, by a verbal ability test developed by the researcher. All of the research findings
support the “another way to reach the same results through different paths” idea of Item Response Theory. In the
light of the findings, in order to construct a valid and reliable instrument, the important thing is not selecting the
theory, it is applying the necessities on the selected theory