Application of Psychometric Properties of an Instrument for Assessing Students' Achievement in Quantitative Economics in Anambra State, Nigeria

Psychometrics refers to psychological measurement that is devoted to testing, measurement, assessment, and related activities within education. The field is concerned with the objective measurement of skills and knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational achievement. Some psychometric researchers focus on the construction and validation of assessment instruments such as questionnaires, tests, raters' judgments, and personality tests. Therefore, this study investigated the application of psychometric properties of an instrument for assessing Quantitative Economics students' achievement in Dunukifia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria in relation to item difficulty, distracter and discriminating items. From a target population of 5 selected secondary schools, asampleof 130 Economics students were sampled using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected with the aid of a validated questionnaire for assessment with a reliability co-efficient of 0.89 index using the Kuder-Richerson 21 method. Data were analyzed using Psychometric Properties Statistics Model (PPSM) to answered research questions. The results show that items that were difficult, distracted and discriminated affected students' academic achievement in Quantitative Economics. It was recommended that Economics students should devote their time to study quantitative aspects of Economics in such way that it will improve their academic achievement. Keywords: Psychometric properties, instrument, achievement.