Latent Class and Discrete Latent Trait Models Similarities and Differences [Hardcover]

The standard latent class model, which has been popular among social scientists as an instrument for data reduction, is also a flexible tool for analyzing structural relationships between categorical variables and can be seen as a natural extension of the log-linear model in order to take measurement error into account. Among behavioural scientists latent trait models have been proposed as the preferable psychometric tools for measuring abilities in such a way that characteristics of items and individuals could be studied separately.

However, what are the similarities and differences between the latent class model and latent trait models? Through a careful examination of these issues, Ton Heinen explores topics such as: hoThe standard latent class model, which has been popular among social scientists as an instrument for data reduction, is also a flexible tool for analyzing structural relationships between categorical variables and can be seen as a natural extension of the log-linear model in order to take measurement error into account. Among behavioural scientists latent trait models have been proposed as the preferable psychometric tools for measuring abilities in such a way that characteristics of items and individuals could be studied separately.

However, what are the similarities and differences between the latent class model and latent trait models? Through a careful examination of these issues, Ton Heinen explores topics such as: ho

"Although there are differences between latent class and latent trait models, the author of this very readable book delineates the similarities between these modeling approaches." 

Introduction
Log-Linear Models and Latent Class Analysis
Latent Class Measurement Models
Latent Trait Models
Discretized Latent Trait Models
Estimation in Latent Trait Models