This book aims to introduce the use of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) – a novel and ever increasingly used method of a test administration – applied to the field of Kinanthropology. By adapting a test to an individual respondent’s latent trait level, computerized adaptive testing offers numerous theoretical and methodological improvements that can significantly advance testing procedures.
In the first part of the monograph, the theoretical and conceptual basis of CAT, as well as a brief overview of its historical origins and basic general principles are presented. The discussion necessarily includes the description of Item Response Theory (IRT) to some extent, since IRT is almost exclusively used as the mathematical model in today’s CAT applications. Practical application of CAT is then evaluated using Monte-Carlo simulations involving adaptive administration of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire – an instrument widely used to assess physical self-concept in the field of sport and exercise psychology.