ABSTRACT
Although the previous part of this volume has been concerned with testing issues related to cognitive ability assessment, the remainder of this volume will be concerned with testing issues related to personality assessment. The separation of cognitive ability from personality assessment does not imply that many of the same testing issues are not relevant to both. As just one example, IRT has played an important role in the construction of both contemporary cognitive ability and personality tests. In the area of computer adaptive testing, IRT has been usefully and frequently applied to cognitive ability assessment; somewhat less frequently to personality assessment, however. In chapter 9, Waller provides a strong argument for the computer adaptive administration on the MMPI. IRT has also proven to be valuable to personality test development in other ways. In chapter 10, Reise will, for example, describe how several person-fit measures derived through IRT have been helpful in determining whether, in fact, a particular personality trait as measured by a test is appropriate for describing an individual.
