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Full-Text Articles in Education

Dissecting The Impact Of Dif/Dbf On Ability Estimation And Person Fit, Kevin Cappaert Dec 2014

Dissecting The Impact Of Dif/Dbf On Ability Estimation And Person Fit, Kevin Cappaert

Theses and Dissertations

Prior research has shown that differential item functioning (DIF) and differential bundle functioning (DBF) can influence ability estimation in unidimensional item repose theory (IRT); however, the relationship between ability estimation and uniform and non-uniform DIF/DBF has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, a simulation study was conducted to more thoroughly investigate how DIF/DBF and other related factors influence ability estimation in IRT. The factors examined included bundle size, the sum of uniform DIF in a bundle, magnitude of non-uniform DIF in each item in a bundle, balance of reference and focal group examinees, test length, and impact. Results indicated that an …


Assessing Mathematical Competence In Second Language: Exploring Dif Evidences From Pisa Malaysian Data, Mazlina Husin Aug 2014

Assessing Mathematical Competence In Second Language: Exploring Dif Evidences From Pisa Malaysian Data, Mazlina Husin

Theses and Dissertations

The year 2003 represents a significant milestone in the history of education development in Malaysia. From 2003, mathematics and science will be taught in English. This change in policy was deemed necessary to ensure that Malaysians are able to keep abreast with scientific and technological development that is mostly recorded in the English language. However, an unintended consequence of this language change was its huge impact on the national education system and the assessment of that system as well. Whenever students are not tested in their home language, one validity issue arises, which is how language, rather than the targeted …


Dif Analyses In Multilevel Data: Identification And Effects On Ability Estimates, Yao Wen Aug 2014

Dif Analyses In Multilevel Data: Identification And Effects On Ability Estimates, Yao Wen

Theses and Dissertations

Fairness is an important issue in educational testing in that different groups of examinees should have equal probabilities of answering an item correctly, provided they have the same capabilities. Therefore, differential item functioning (DIF) analyses were developed due to the possibility of bias in cognitive or achievement tests. Data are multilevel structured in educational testing as students are nested within teachers who are nested within schools, and which may further be nested within districts. Although DIF analyses have been discussed for decades, they are rarely investigated in multilevel data. In this study, DIF analyses in multilevel data were investigated via …