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Objectives: The goal of the presented study was to identify groups of respondents which differ in the probability of successful solving individual items comprising test of spatial abilities. Sample and setting: The size of the research sample was 1540 test-takers, who attended the admission procedure to Masaryk University. Data from the Spatial Abilities subtest were analyzed. Hypotheses: The total score of the Spatial Abilities test reflects not only the level of spatial abilities but also the level of verbal-analytic thinking. Statistical analysis: The Latent Class Analysis was used to identify the latent classes of respondents and also other common statistical procedures were applied. Results: Three latent classes of respondents were identified. These classes were interpreted considering the ability to solve the item using manipulations with mental images or analytical technique based on decomposing the item image into sequence of propositions. Study limitation: The interpretations are based on a large research sample collected in a real testing situation during university's admission procedure. In a follow-up research the authors plan to use the introspection method to analyze mental processes applied when solving items from a test of spatial abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The presented study analyzes the preference of response categories in spatial reasoning test. The goal is to enhance comprehension of test behavior of respondents that determines the choice of certain response category in multiple choice items. Subjects and setting. The sample consisted of 2001 subjects (52 % females), who attended entrance exams to Masaryk university, i.e. the Learning Potential Test. Each of the items in the test consisted of one correct answer and four distractors. Five items of the Spatial reasoning subtest were analyzed. Statistical analysis. Using IRT Nominal Categories Model, for each response category conditional probabilities of their preference based on ability level estimate were computed. Results. On the basis of acquired information the authors suggested hypotheses about the roles of distractors in items. These hypotheses were further discussed in conjunction with information from test items reviewers and testtakers, who had the possibility to comment test items through official internet discussion forum. Study limitations. Suggested hypotheses about test behavior need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]