Winsteps and Facets...

Customer Support

Winsteps and Facets are complex statistical measurement packages. New features are continually being added, but backward-compatibility to earlier versions is also maintained. For Winsteps and its predecessors, this goes back to 1985. For Facets to 1987.

Winsteps and Facets are both Windows-native software packages, taking advantage of many of the user-oriented features of Windows. But, for "production line" analysis, Windows can get in the way. Accordingly Windows features can also be bypassed.

All this means that there can be a somewhat steep learning curve during your first two or three analyses. Rasch theory can be an unfamiliar way to conceptualize your analytical problems. The program user interfaces are more complex than "point and click", though more "point and click" features are continually being added.

Consequently, the entire software manual, called the "User Manual", is in the program Help files, together with plenty of example data sets.

Customer support is also available free by email. Most problems are solved by means of a line or two of explanation regarding Rasch theory or program operation, a simple suggestion, and a reference to a section in the software Help file. If the problem is due to a program bug, then a "fixed" version of the software is provided free by download as soon as possible, and a work-around is suggested until that time.

Response to most emailed questions is provided within 24 hours, usually by Mike Linacre, the software developer.

Mike Linacre uses the software himself to analyze real data. He also monitors the professional literature looking for useful new ideas and approaches to incorporate in the software. Suggestions and requests from users are frequently the source of new software features.

User Comments

Perfect. I'll try it out. This will be a big help for our test development.
Item bank builder, June 2008

Thank you for responding and sending me the [lost] password. All's well. I used Ministep in the meanwhile. Its been a lot of fun helping my students analyze their test scores with Ministep and Winsteps.
University Professor, May 2008

I am just happy to finally find something that appears to be working well.
Research Scientist with a challenging data-analysis problem, May 2008

The new module was successful, thank you. BTW I love this feature of Winsteps; it's really cool!
Manager, global professional services firm, March 2008

Thank you very much! - to quote the US golfing cliché, "You da man!" - also, thanks for the suggestion of .... - hopefully, that will speed things up significantly
Large-scale number-cruncher, March 2006

Not only does it help, it is EXACTLY what I needed to know. Thank you!
Analyst with a technical question, February 2006

Super quick response and exactly what the doctor ordered! Many thanks!
Puzzled analyst, January 2006

I am internally [eternally?] indebted to you for the help you've given me. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but you've got a heart of gold.
Researcher on a government project, January 2006

... if Mike's words are not gibberish, they are awfully close.
Casual observer, December 2005 (The biggest challenge we face is communicating ... Arthur C. Clarke)

Thank you so much for your help. I have been working on the scoring today and it has worked! Thank you for your time.
Postgraduate student, November 2005

Thanks for the quick reply. We got it straightened out in a few seconds once we knew where to look. Our end of the year analysis is so dependent on Winsteps that it's comforting to know that we have such a great resource for help if we need it.
Certification professional, November 2005

Thank you for your constant support! I continue to be completely amazed and delighted with your responsiveness and willingness to keep 'pushing the envelope' of usefulness for Winsteps.
Research Director, Testing Organization, September 2005

Thanks for getting back to me so promptly. I have downloaded the revised version of Facets and I will re-run the analyses tomorrow with the new convergence specifications and check the output as you suggested.
Researcher, Australia, May 2005

Thank you very much for your assistance! I was able to straighten everything out and it looks much better now.
Research Associate with a variable mapping problem, December 2004

Winsteps - Dichotomous Rasch software with good graphing features.
The MQM Virtual Lab Statistical Software Library, Michigan State University affiliate, December 2004

Once again thank you for your generosity in guiding two novices through this area.
Paper authors new to Rasch analysis, December 2004

2:38 AM 5/17/2008

Thank you very much for your extremely helpful and detailed response to my questions! I appreciate your time and effort in responding.
Research Assistant, August 2004

Thank you for your great software and the even better support!
Researcher in Germany, July 2004

I'm glad to be able to do research using FACETS and report on it at our conferences. FACETS is a great tool, my thanks to you.
Industrial psychologist, June 2004

Thank you! (once again) It worked perfectly, of course.
Very experienced researcher, May 2004

Thank you very much for your support. I appreciate your promptness and expertise at getting to what I needed.
Certification Board Psychometrician, April 2004

Thanks so much again!! This was exactly what I needed!
Test Analyst for a U.S. State, April 2004

Thank you. That did solve my problem, and thank you for getting back to me so quickly!
Project Director, March 2004

Yes, Table 2.12 is exactly what I need. Thank you so much for your help.
Self-described "recent convert to Winsteps", February 2004

It worked. Thank you for introducing such a nice feature into WINSTEPS.
Analyst working for large New Jersey testing company. February 2003

I just used the SPSS input and control file creation feature for the first time. I really needed it as I was under some pressure, and did it really come through!
Senior scientist, November 2003

That is great, thank you! I truly appreciate all your help.
Employee of major test publisher, November 2003

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Analyst under time pressure, September 2003

Thanks again, Mike. Now I can confidently move forward with my dissertation!
Doctoral candidate in a medical specialty, August 2003

Many thanks to your ALWAYS swift and correct replies! It worked!
Psychology Professor, August 2003

Your rewriting of the program [instructions] worked! I thank you so much.
Student struggling with Bigsteps, August 2003.

Thank you very much for your quick reply. I downloaded the new version and it went very well. Thank you so much. Now I can present my study at the coming conference. I appreciate your kindness.
Japanese researcher, August 2003

I will let you know if there are any more problems. I ran the new program and everything went the way it should. Thank you for your help. Again, I appreciate your prompt replies.
Researcher who discovered a bug in a rarely-used Winsteps option, July 2003

Your response is cold, direct and insensitive. Provide a better explanation!
Student, June 2003. (Sorry, we do the best we can.)

Count me among your new aficionados! I'm an educational researcher at the University of .... who is working ... on a federally-funded center related to ...
May 2003

Thanks to you we were able to accomplish our objectives in producing the report and distributing in time for some important ... meetings.
Data analyst, May 2003

Thank you for your quick response. Seems like your response covered my questions, I'll get back to you if not.
Workshop participant, April 2003

We are working on a poster of the history of the AMPS for the Rasch symposium to honor Ben [Wright]. I dug out the first FACETS analysis you did on the AMPS -- 7 raters, 4 tasks, 3 people -- hard to believe that we now have about 85,000 people, 8000 raters, and 83 tasks [rated on 16 motor and 20 process skill items] !!!! All you have done to enable us to realize this incredible outcome has meant so much over the years!!!
Anne Fisher, AMPS Developer, April 2003

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
New York "Facets" User, April 2003

Outstanding! Thanks for your help.
Research Director, April 2003

Eureka! Thanks Mike, that really helps!
Researcher, March 2003

Thank you very much for your time and help...this makes sense and helps...I'll keep you posted on my progress!
Ph.D. student, March 2003

"What a relief -- an easy fix! Thanks very much for your quick reply. Cheers."
University Professor, March 2003

"Thank you. Your support, stewardship, and championing of your software, and Rasch measurement in general, are second to none. Again, I thank you. Your replies tonight have been exceptionally timely and helpful."
Certification board psychometrician, March 2003


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For more information, contact
Rasch measurement software and publications by e-mail using the comment form above.
Our current URL is www.winsteps.com

Winsteps, PO Box 811322, Chicago IL 60681-1322, USA
Tel. & FAX (312) 264-2352
Winsteps® is a registered trademark

The URL of this page is www.winsteps.com/comments.htm

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