Investigating the treatment of missing data in an Olympiad-type test – the case of the selection validity in the South African Mathematics Olympiad

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Authors

Long, Caroline
Engelbrecht, Johann
Scherman, Vanessa
Dunne, Tim

Journal Title

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Publisher

AOSIS Open Journals

Abstract

The purpose of the South African Mathematics Olympiad is to generate interest in mathematics and to identify the most talented mathematical minds. Our focus is on how the handling of missing data affects the selection of the ‘best’ contestants. Two approaches handling missing data, applying the Rasch model, are described. The issue of guessing is investigated through a tailored analysis. We present two microanalyses to illustate how missing data may impact selection; the first investigates groups of contestants that may miss selection under particular conditions; the second focuses on two contestants each of whom answer 14 items correctly. This comparison raises questions about the proportion of correct to incorrect answers. Recommendations are made for future scoring of the test, which include reconsideration of negative marking and weighting as well as considering the inclusion of 150 or 200 contestants as opposed to 100 contestants for participation in the final round.

Description

Our respected and loved colleague, Tim Dunne, sadly passed away in a car accident after this article had been submitted for publication. We acknowledge his valuable contribution not only to the article but also to the field of Rasch measurement theory.

Keywords

South African Mathematics Olympiad, Mathematical minds, Missing data, Contestants

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Long, C., Engelbrecht, J., Scherman, V. & Dunne, T. (2016). Investigating the treatment of missing data in an Olympiad-type test – the case of the selection validity in the South African Mathematics Olympiad. Pythagoras, 37(1), a333. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/pythagoras.v37i1.333.