Rasch analysis: A primer for school psychology researchers and practitioners

In order to progress as a field, school psychology research must be informed by effective measurement techniques. One approach to address the need for careful measurement is Rasch analysis. This technique can (a) facilitate the development of instruments that provide useful data, (b) provide data that can be used confidently for both descriptive and parametric statistics, and (c) provide outcome measures that offer clinically meaningful guidance to school psychology researchers and practitioners. In this paper, we first introduce the basic principles of Rasch measurement that undergird the use of Rasch analysis in school psychology. Next, we describe several techniques that can be used to conduct a basic Rasch analysis. In doing so, we use Winsteps software to illustrate the application of these techniques with a single exemplar school psychology rating scale data set. Finally, we provide conclusions and resources to consult for further learning.