Title
) Greater Precision in Measuring Dementia Severity: Establishing Item Parameters for the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Abstract
Background/Aims: An item response theory (IRT)-based scoring approach to the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) can account for the pattern of scores across the CDR items (domains) and their differential abilities to indicate dementia severity. In doing so, an IRT-based approach can provide greater precision than other CDR scoring algorithms. However, neither a good set of item parameters nor an easily digestible set of instructions needed to implement this approach is readily available. Methods:Participants were 1,326 patients at the Baylor College of Medicine Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Clinic. Results: The item parameters necessary for an IRT-based scoring approach were identified (a parameters ranged from 3.01 to 6.22; bparameters ranged from –2.46 to 2.07). Conclusion: This study provides, and demonstrates how to easily apply, IRT-based item parameters for the CDR.
Publication Title
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Volume
34
Issue
2
First Page
128
Last Page
134
DOI of Published Version
10.1159/000341731
Recommended Citation
Lowe, D.A.; Balsis, S.; Miller, Tyler M.; Benge, J.F.; and Doody, R.S., ") Greater Precision in Measuring Dementia Severity: Establishing Item Parameters for the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale" (2012). Psychology Faculty Publications. 6.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/psych_pubs/6