he "Ask the Experts" series is a new feature in RMT in which experts throughout the world weigh-in on a number of controversial topics. For this issue, I have selected the topic of Rasch versus factor analysis. I selected this topic because numerous Rasch enthusiasts have mentioned many journal reviewers and editors continue to confuse the methodologies and sometimes require additional, and unnecessary, data analyses. Thus, the purpose of this piece is to provide readers with authoritative insights on Rasch versus factor analysis and help Rasch advocates overcome these common objections to Rasch analyses.

The expert panel for this piece includes Karl Bang Christensen from the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), George Engelhard, Jr. from the Department of Educational Studies at Emory University (USA), and Thomas Salzberger from the Department of Marketing at WU Wien (Austria).