CONVERGE= select convergence criteria

This selects which of LCONV= and RCONV= set the convergence criterion. See convergence considerations.

CONVERGE=L	LCONV= for "Logit change size" controls convergence. Iteration stops when the biggest logit change is less or equal to LCONV=, or when the biggest logit change size increases (divergence).
CONVERGE=R	RCONV= for "Residual size" controls convergence. Iteration stops when the biggest residual score is less or equal to RCONV=, or when the biggest residual size increases (divergence).
CONVERGE=E	Either LCONV= for "Logit change size" or RCONV= for "Residual size" controls convergence. Iteration stops when the biggest logit change is less or equal to LCONV=, or when the biggest residual score is less or equal to RCONV=, or when both the biggest logit change size increases and the biggest residual size increases (divergence).
CONVERGE=B	Both LCONV= for "Logit change size" and RCONV= for "Residual size" controls convergence. Iteration stops when both the biggest logit change is less or equal to LCONV= and the biggest residual score is less or equal to RCONV=, or when both the biggest logit change size increases and the biggest residual size increases (divergence).
CONVERGE=F	Force both LCONV= for "Logit change size" and RCONV= for "Residual size" to control convergence. Iteration stops when both the biggest logit change is less or equal to LCONV= and the biggest residual score is less or equal to RCONV=.

Example 1: We want to be take a conservative position about convergence, requiring both small logit changes and small residual sizes when iteration ceases.

CONVERGE=Both

Example 2: We want to set the convergence criteria to match BIGSTEPS version 2.59

CONVERGE=B ; the criteria were LCONV= and RCONV=

RCONV= 0.5 ; the BIGSTEPS standards or whatever value you used

LCONV= .01

Example 3: We want to set the convergence criteria to match Winsteps version 3.20

CONVERGE=E ; the criterion was LCONV or RCONV

RCONV= 0.5 ; the 3.20 standards or whatever value you used

LCONV= .01

Example 4: We want the convergence criteria to match Winsteps version 2.85

CONVERGE= F ; force both LCONV and RCONV to be met

RCONV= 0.5 ; the 2.85 standards or whatever value you used

LCONV= .01

You may also want:

WHEXACT=NO ; centralized Wilson-Hilferty was the default

Example 5: Question: With anchored analyses, iterations never stop!

|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| JMLE MAX SCORE MAX LOGIT LEAST CONVERGED CATEGORY STEP |

| ITERATION RESIDUAL* CHANGE EXID BYCASE CAT RESIDUAL CHANGE |

|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1 -239.04 .5562 1993 392* 6 85.70 -.5960|

| 2 -105.65 -.1513 1993 392* 4 -28.92 .2745|

.....

| 18 -5.35 -.0027 2228 352* 3 2.35 .0146|

| 19 -5.16 .0029 2228 352* 3 2.31 .0106|

| 20 -5.05 .0025 2228 352* 3 2.28 .0055|

| 21 -5.00 .0010 2228 352* 3 2.26 .0075|

| 22 -4.99 -.0008 2228 352* 3 2.25 .0025|

.....

| 170 -5.00 -.0011 1377 352* 3 1.96 .0109|

| 171 -5.00 .0018 187 352* 3 1.96 .0019|

.....

The standard convergence criteria in Winsteps are preset for "free" analyses. With anchored analyses, convergence is effectively reached when the logit estimates stop changing in a substantively meaningful way. This has effectively happened by iteration 20. Note that the logit changes are less than .01 logits - i.e., even the biggest change would make no difference to the printed output (which is usually reported to 2 decimal places)

To have the current Winsteps do this automatically, set

CONVERGE=L

LCONV=.005 ; set to stop at iteration 22 - to be on the safe side.