Abstract

The random-effects facet model that deals with local item dependence in many-facet contexts is presented. It can be viewed as a special case of the multidimensional random coefficients multinormal logit model (MRCMLM) so that the estimation procedures for the MRCMLM can be directly applied. Simulations were conducted to examine parameter recovery and effects of model misspecification. Results indicated that the item and person parameters as well as the random effects could be recovered very accurately when the data were analyzed using the generating random-effects facet model. When local item dependence was ignored and the standard facet model was used, the parameter estimates were shrunken and the test reliability was overestimated. Two empirical examples about journal quality ratings and rater effects are given to illustrate implications and applications of the proposed random-effects facet model.