title: Using item response theory models to evaluate the Practice Environment Scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to introduce different types of item response theory models and to demonstrate their usefulness by evaluating the Practice Environment Scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Item response theory models such as constrained and unconstrained graded response model, partial credit model, Rasch model, and one-parameter logistic model are demonstrated. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) indices are used as model selection criterion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The unconstrained graded response and partial credit models indicated the best fit for the data. Almost all items in the instrument performed well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most of the items strongly measure the construct, there are a few items that could be eliminated without substantially altering the instrument. The analysis revealed that the instrument may function differently when administered to different unit types.
authors.forename: Dheeraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Patrician
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires