As potencialidades da Teoria de Resposta ao Item na validade dos testes: Aplicação a uma prova de dependência-independência de campo.

This paper analyses the items of "Padrões" test - a multiple-choice computerized test of field dependenceindependence - considering the one, two or three parameters logistic models of Item Response Theory (TRI). A sample of 1918 candidates to an aeronautic course on Portuguese Air Force was considered. We analyzed the adjustment level for one parameter (1PL), two parameters (2PL) and three (3PL) parameters logistic models. Results show that 1PL adjusted to all items, 2PL adjusted to half, and 3PL didn't allow the assurance of the previous conditions. Data analysis suggest that the first reason for 2PL and 3PL models maladjustment is the lack of unidimensionality, which can be considered as an illustration of the basic exigencies for IRT implementation on psychological test construction and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]