A middle path between abandoning measurement and measurement theory

Abstract

Michell has argued that item response models carry an inherent paradox because they incorporate error. In counter-arguments, the paradox has been dismissed based on the claim that such models need to incorporate error terms. It has also been claimed that item response models use information contained within intervals. The aim is to describe a formal connection in item response models between error and the measurement unit. It is argued that given the connection, Michell’s criticisms are not as easily dismissed as some claim: His argument does raise questions about whether item response theory can be used to measure psychological attributes. On the other hand, Michell’s position offers little in the way of guidance about how to approach the scientific task of quantification. For this reason, the theoretical framework that he adopts is also critically examined with a particular focus on the way in which measurement in physics is approached.