MFORMS= reformat input data and multiple data forms

MFORMS= supports the reformatting of input data records, and also equating multiple input files in different formats, such as alternate forms of the same test. Data after END NAMES or END LABELS is processed first, as is data specified by DATA= in the core control file.

Data reformatted by MFORMS= can be accessed, viewed, edited and "saved as" permanently using the "Edit" pull-down menu. It has a file name of the form: ZMF.....txt

Here is the layout:

mforms=*

data=forma.txt        ; the name of an input data file

L=2                        ; there are 2 lines in input data file for each data record

I1 = 20                ; response to item 1 of the combined test is in column 20 of the input data file

I3-5 = 21                ; items 3, 4, 5 are in columns 21, 22, 23 of the input data file

I16-20=11                ; items 16, 17,18, 19, 20 are in columns 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

P1=9                        ; the first character of person label is in column 9 of the input data file

P3-8=1                ; person label characters 3 through 8 start in column 1

C20-24="FORMA"        ; put in columns 20-24 the letters FORMA

C40-90 = 2:1        ; put in columns 40-90 the characters in the second line of the data record

#                        ; end of definition - start of next file reformat        

DATA=formb.txt        ; name of input data file

P3-7=1                ; information for columns 3-7 of person label starts in column 1 of data record

.....

*                        ; end of mforms= command

Details:

mforms=*                instructions follow in control file, and end with another *.

mforms=filename        instructions are in a file but in the same format as above.

data=filename        name of input file name to be reformatted.

The reformatted records are placed in a temporary work file. This may be accessed from the Edit pull-down menu, and saved into a permanent file.

This temporary file is processed after any Data Files specified with the master Data= instruction and in the same way, e.g., any FORMAT= command will be applied also to the temporary work file.

L=nnn                        nnn is the count of lines in each input data record

                       If L=1 this can be omitted

                       L=4 means that 4 input data lines are processed for each data record output.

Cnnn=....                nnn is the column number in the formatted data record.

                       XWIDE= does not apply. C10-12 means columns 10, 11, 12 of the formatted record.

                       C1= refers to column 1 of the formatted data record.

                       This can also be used to move item and person information.

Innn=....                nnn is the starting item number in the formatted data record

                       nnn-mmm are the starting to ending item numbers in the formatted data record

                       XWIDE= is applied, so that I3-5= with XWIDE=2 means 6 characters.

                       I1= points to column Item1= in the formatted data record.

Pnnn=....                nnn is the starting column number in the person label in the formatted person label.                

                       XWIDE= is not applied. P6-8= always means 3 columns starting in column 6.

                       P1= points to column Name1= in the formatted data record.

.....=nnn                nnn is the starting column of the only, or the first, line in the input data record.

....=m:nnn                m is the line number in each data record

                       nnn is the starting column number of that line

....="xxxx"                "xxxx" is a character constant to be placed in the formatted data record.

                       Note: for I18-20="abc" with XWIDE=2, then response to Item 18 is "ab", 19 is "c ", 20 is "  ".

#                        end of processing of one file, start of the next

*                        end of Mforms= processing

Example 1:        See Exam10c.txt

Example 2:        Three data files with common items and one MCQ scoring key.

       Datafile1.txt: (Items 1-6)

       TOMY      ABCDAB

       BILL      BCDADD

       Datafile2.txt (Items 1-3 and 7-9)

       TOTO      BBADAB

       MOULA     BADADD

       Datafile3.txt (Items 1-3 and 10-12)

       IHSANI    ACCDAB

       MALIK     CBDDCD

       Control file:

       TITLE="Multiple MCQ forms with one scoring key"

       NI=12                ; 12 ITEMS IN TOTAL

       ITEM1=11

       NAME1=1

       CODES="ABCD"

       KEY1=BACCADACADDA

       mforms=*

       data=datafile1.txt        ; name of data file

       L=1                        ; one line per person

       P1-10=1                ; person label in columns 1-10

       I1-3=11                ; items 1-3 in columns 11-13

       I4-6=14                ; items 4-6 in columns 14-16

       #

       data=datafile2.txt

       L=1

       P1-10=1

       I1-3=11

       I7-9=14                ; items 8-9 in columns 14-16

       #

       data=datafile3.txt

       L=1

       P1-10=1

       I1-3=11

       I10-12=14                ; items 10-12 in columns 14-16

       *

       &END

       ; item identification here

       END NAMES

       Here is how the data appear to Winsteps for analysis:

       TOMY      ABCDAB

       BILL      BCDADD

       TOTO      BBA   DAB

       MOULA     BAD   ADD

       IHSANI    ACC      DAB

       MALIK     CBD      DCD

Example 3: Test 1 is a 4-item survey. Test 2 is a 4-item survey its first two items are the last two items on Test 1. Those items share the same rating scale, called "C". The other 4 items also share another rating scale, called "U".

       Datafile1.txt: (Items 1-4)

       TOMY      3241

       BILL      3352

       Datafile2.txt (Items 3-4 and 5-6)

       TOTO      3325

       MOULA     2143

       TITLE="Combing two surveys"

       NI=6                ; 6 ITEMS IN TOTAL

       ITEM1=11

       NAME1=1

       CODES="12345"                ; all valid codes on all the survey items

       ISGROUPS = UUCCUU        ; assigns items to rating scales

       mforms=*

       data=datafile1.txt        ; name of data file

       L=1                        ; one line per person

       P1-10=1                ; person label in columns 1-10

       I1-4=11                ; items 1-4 in columns 11-14

       #

       data=datafile2.txt

       L=1

       P1-10=1

       I1-2=13                ; items 1-2 on the second survey are items 3 and 4 on the first survey

       I3-4=15                ; items 3-4 in columns 15-16

       #

       &END

       ; item identification here

       END NAMES

       Here is how the data appear to Winsteps for analysis:

       TOMY      3241        ; items 1-2 unique, items 3-4 common

       BILL      3352

       TOTO        3325        ; items 3-4 common, items 5-6 unique

       MOULA       2143

Example 4: Test 1 is a 4-item survey. Test 2 is a 4-item survey with two items in common with Test 1 which are to be anchored to their Test 1 values.

Test 1 has 4 rating scale items. Each item has its own partial-credit structure:

       title = "Test 1"

       item1 = 1        ; items start in column 1

       ni = 4        ; 4 items

       name1 = 5        ; person label starts in column 5

       namlen = 14        ; length of person name

       codes =  01234  ; rating scale

       ISGROUPS = 0        ; each item has its own rating scale structure

       stkeep = YES        ; this is probably what you want for these type of data

       data = data1.txt

       ifile = items1if.txt        ; item calibrations from Test 1 for Test 2 (output)

       sfile = items1sf.txt        ; structure calibrations from Test 1 for Test 2 (output)

       &END

       Test 1 item 1

       Test 1 item 2

       Test 1 item 3

       Test 1 item 4

       END NAMES

data 1.txt is:

       1234Person 1-1

       3212Person 1-2

       ......

Test 2 has 4 items. 1 and 4 are new - we will call these items 5 and 6 of the combined Test 1 and 2. Item 2 is Test 1 item 4, and item 3 is Test 1 item 2.

       title = "Test 2 (formatted to match Test 1)"

       item1 = 1        ; items start in column 1

       ni = 6        ; 4 items in Test 1 + 2 more in Test 2

       name1 = 7        ; person label starts in column 7

       namlen =14        ; length of person name

       codes =  01234        ; rating scale

       stkeep = YES        ; this is probably what you want for these type of data

       ISGROUPS = 0                ; each item has its own rating scale structure

       iafile = items1if.txt        ; item calibrations from Test 1 (input - unchanged)

       safile = items1sf.txt        ; structure calibrations from Test 1 (input - unchanged)

       MFORMS = *                ; reformat the Test 2 data to align with Test 1

       data = data2.txt        ; the name of an input data file

       L = 1                        ; there is 1 line in input data file for each data record

       I2 = 3                ; response to item 2 of Test  1 is in 3 of the data2.txt file

       I4 = 2                ; response to item 4 of Test  1 is in 2 of the data2.txt file

       I5 = 1                ; item 5 is in column 1 of data2.txt

       I6 = 4                ; item 6 is in column 4 of data2.txt

       P1-14 = 5                ; the first character of person label is in column 5 of data2.txt for 14 columns.

       *                        ; end of mforms= command

       &END

       Test 1 item 1 (blank in Test 2)

       Test 1 item 2 (Test 2 item 3)

       Test 1 item 3 (blank in Test 2)

       Test 1 item 4  (Test 2 item 2)

       Item 5 (not in Test 1, Test 2 item 1)

       Item 6 (not in Test 1, Test 2 item 4)

       END NAMES

data2.txt is:

       5426Person 2-1

       1234Person 2-2

       ....

The formatted file (see Edit pull-down menu MFORMS==) is

       2 456Person 2-1

       3 214Person 2-2

       ....