catcher: a software program to detect answer copying in multiple-choice tests based on nominal response model

Abstract

catcher is a software program designed to compute the v index, a common statistical index for the identification of collusions (cheating) among examinees taking an educational or psychological test. It requires (a) responses and (b) ability estimations of individuals, and (c) item parameters to make computations and outputs the results of the analyses in two text files. The program uses the nominal response model to estimate v index and is based on residuals between expected and observed values of matched answers between examinee pairs (copier and source) by considering correct and incorrect answers, conditioning on source’s answers, copier’s ability level, and item parameters.