The University of Western Australia

Asst/Prof Ida Marais

Research Assistant Professor
Pearson Psychometrics Laboratory

Contact details

Address

Pearson Psychometrics Laboratory
The University of Western Australia (M428)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 3353

Email

ida.marais@uwa.edu.au

Biography

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (University of Auckland)

Key research

Psychological and Educational Measurement,

Data simulation,

Rasch measurement,

Quantitative research methods in Psychology and Education

Publications

(recent)
Marais, I & Andrich, D. (2011). Diagnosing a Common Rater Halo Effect using the Polytomous Rasch Model, Journal of Applied Measurement, 12(3), 1-16.
Andrich, D., Marais, I. & Humphry. S. M. (2011). Using a theorem by Andersen and the dichotomous Rasch model to assess the presence of random guessing in multiple choice items. Journal of Educational and Behavioural Statistics.
Bridgstock, M., Marais, I. & Sturgess, K. (2011). The Structure of Superstitious action – a further analysis of fresh evidence. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 795-798.
Asril, A & Marais, I. (2011). Applying a Rasch model Distractor Analysis: Implications for Teaching and Learning. In R.F. Cavanaugh and R.F. Waugh (Eds.) Applications of Rasch Measurement for Learning Environments Research, Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
Taylor, M., Marais, I & Cottman, R. (2011). Patterns of graffiti offending: Towards recognition that graffiti is more than just ‘kids messing around’, Policing and Society, 1-17.
Taylor, M. & Marais, I (2011). Not in my back school yard: An examination of the incidence and cost of graffiti damage at Western Australian schools in relation to their proximity to a skate park. Australian Planner, 48(2), 84-95.

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

State, national and international level assessments (e.g. PISA, NAPLAN) are used to compare countries, states, schools (e.g. the MySchool website) and in Australia to determine tertiary entrance. The aim of my research is to study the factors that affect these achievement scales for the purpose of controlling them so that these comparisons can be valid and precise. The Rasch item response model is used in the analyses and I study the effects of violations of the Rasch model on maintaining invariant scales. This includes ongoing software development of a program (RUMMss) used for data simulation.
Another project I am working on is the ongoing development of a computer program (IIEPSAMP) for designing probability samples of schools used in large-scale studies of the quality of education. This is in collaboration with the International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO), Paris.

Teaching

EDUC8638 Introduction to Rasch Measurement of Modern Test Theory

EDUC8606 Advanced Course in Rasch Measurement of Modern Test Theory

Current external positions

Independent audit of the Australian Council of Education Research (ACER) analysis of the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT). 2007-2011.

Research profile

Research profile and publications