Scaling of AIDS Knowledge Test Items for Japanese Junior High School Students

抄録

In this paper, we estimated the traits of AIDS knowledge items found in Japanese junior high school tests using Item Response Theory. Discrimination and difficulty, which are parameters that regulate the item traits, were estimated. With this method, we were able to describe the characteristics of AIDS knowledge items. As a result, items like “one has more risk of getting infected by AIDS when fatigued” , “the body fluid that contains the HIV virus the most is blood” , and “AIDS can be transmitted through sexual intercourse” were found low in difficulty for students, meaning that many students do have an understanding of those items. On the other hand, items that relate to the routes of infection other than humans, like “mosquitoes can carry HIV viruses” , “the disease cannot be transmitted from pets and other animals” , and “there are effective vaccines for AIDS” were found to be high in difficulty. However, “the HIV virus can be transmitted by shaking hands” , “AIDS can be transmitted when the blood of an infected patient touches a wound of a healthy individual” , and others regarding the routes of infection among human beings were also low in difficulty, proving a high understanding by the students.