Patents by Inventor Nancy Petersen

Nancy Petersen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10706734
    Abstract: A method for use of pretest items in a test to calculate interim scores is provided. The method includes, for example, a computer implemented test having a plurality of test items that include, for example, a plurality of operational items and one or more pretest items having one or more pretest item parameters. An interim latent construct estimate is calculated using both operational and pretest items. The error for the latent construct estimation is controlled by weighting the contribution of the one or more pretest items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ACT, INC.
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao
  • Patent number: 10529245
    Abstract: A method for test item selection is provided that includes a computer implemented test battery having at least two or more sections with a plurality of test items. An ability estimate is calculated from an earlier section(s) of the at least two or more sections and an initial item and subsequent items for a subsequent section are selected from the plurality of test items based upon the ability estimate(s) from the earlier section(s). Use of a more informative initial ability estimate in the item selection process can improve interim ability estimation accuracy and item selection efficiency while keeping item exposure and item usage rates at acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ACT, INC.
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao, Wugen Dai
  • Publication number: 20190156692
    Abstract: A method for use of pretest items in a test to calculate interim scores is provided. The method includes, for example, a computer implemented test having a plurality of test items that include, for example, a plurality of operational items and one or more pretest 5 items having one or more pretest item parameters. An interim latent construct estimate is calculated using both operational and pretest items. The error for the latent construct estimation is controlled by weighting the contribution of the one or more pretest items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao
  • Patent number: 9847039
    Abstract: Automated methods and systems are provided for presenting and scoring items which are presented in different question formats that include graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, table analysis, and multi-source reasoning. There are a plurality of response opportunities for each item, and each response opportunity is independent of each other. In operation, an item is presented in the respective question format on a processor-controlled user interface display screen. A response engine receives the response for each response opportunity. A scoring engine in communication with the response engine receives the plurality of responses and scores the plurality of responses by determining whether the response selected for each response opportunity is correct, and assigning credit for the item only if each of the responses for each of the response opportunities is correct, and assigning no credit for the item if at least one of the responses for each of the response opportunities is incorrect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Graduate Management Admission Council
    Inventors: Fanmin Guo, Gloria Drapac, Theresa Biancheri, Nancy Petersen, Jie Li, Ann (Chunxin) Wang
  • Publication number: 20150161901
    Abstract: A method for test item selection is provided that includes a computer implemented test battery having at least two or more sections with a plurality of test items. An ability estimate is calculated from an earlier section(s) of the at least two or more sections and an initial item and subsequent items for a subsequent section are selected from the plurality of test items based upon the ability estimate(s) from the earlier section(s). Use of a more informative initial ability estimate in the item selection process can improve interim ability estimation accuracy and item selection efficiency while keeping item exposure and item usage rates at acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao, Wugen Dai
  • Publication number: 20150161899
    Abstract: A method for use of pretest items in a test to calculate interim scores is provided. The method includes, for example, a computer implemented test having a plurality of test items that include, for example, a plurality of operational items and one or more pretest items having one or more pretest item parameters. An interim latent construct estimate is calculated using both operational and pretest items. The error for the latent construct estimation is controlled by weighting the contribution of the one or more pretest items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao
  • Publication number: 20150161902
    Abstract: A method for test item selection is provided that includes a computer implemented test battery having at least two or more sections with a plurality of test items. An ability estimate is calculated from an earlier section(s) of the at least two or more sections and an initial item and subsequent items for a subsequent section are selected from the plurality of test items based upon the ability estimate(s) from the earlier section(s). Use of a more informative initial ability estimate in the item selection process can improve interim ability estimation accuracy and item selection efficiency while keeping item exposure and item usage rates at acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao, Wugen Dai
  • Publication number: 20150161900
    Abstract: A method for use of pretest items in a test to calculate interim scores is provided. The method includes, for example, a computer implemented test having a plurality of test items that include, for example, a plurality of operational items and one or more pretest items having one or more pretest item parameters. An interim latent construct estimate is calculated using both operational and pretest items. The error for the latent construct estimation is controlled by weighting the contribution of the one or more pretest items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Lisa Gawlick, Changhui Zhang, Nancy Petersen, Lingyun Gao
  • Publication number: 20140234825
    Abstract: Automated methods and systems are provided for presenting and scoring items which are presented in different question formats that include graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, table analysis, and multi-source reasoning. There are a plurality of response opportunities for each item, and each response opportunity is independent of each other. In operation, an item is presented in the respective question format on a processor-controlled user interface display screen. A response engine receives the response for each response opportunity. A scoring engine in communication with the response engine receives the plurality of responses and scores the plurality of responses by determining whether the response selected for each response opportunity is correct, and assigning credit for the item only if each of the responses for each of the response opportunities is correct, and assigning no credit for the item if at least one of the responses for each of the response opportunities is incorrect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GRADUATE MANAGEMENT ADMISSION COUNCIL
    Inventors: Fanmin GUO, Gloria DRAPAC, Theresa BIANCHERI, Nancy PETERSEN, Jie LI, Ann (Chunxin) WANG
  • Publication number: 20060228686
    Abstract: A method and system for assembling a test having a plurality of slots is disclosed. The method includes executing a test administration script to associate each of the plurality of slots of the test with an item collection from which an item to fill the slot is to be chosen and to determine a lookup table of optimization statistics and a degree of randomization to use in selecting items from the item collection. An interim test score is obtained based on a portion of the test previously assembled. Optimization statistics are applied to control a property of the test based on the interim score while taking into account the degree of randomization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: ACT, INC.
    Inventors: Robert McKinley, Nancy Petersen, Judith Spray