KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Finding Item-Level Causes of Differential Item Functioning: A Hierarchical IRT Model for Explaining DIF

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Brussow_ku_0099D_15778_DATA_1.pdf (8.239Mb)
    Issue Date
    2018-05-31
    Author
    Brussow, Jennifer
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    163 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    Ph.D.
    Discipline
    Psychology & Research in Education
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    This research explored the effectiveness of using a hierarchical 2-PL item response theory (IRT) model to explain differential item functioning (DIF) according to item-level features. Explaining DIF in terms of variance attributable to construct-irrelevant item-level features would allow testing programs to improve item writing and item review processes to account for the features shown to predict DIF. Whereas previous research in this area has used classical test theory for scaling and logistic regression for DIF detection, this study explained DIF in terms of a hierarchical IRT model. Latent trait models are more widely used in operational testing programs; additionally, simultaneous estimation allows uncertainty in parameter estimates to be considered during the estimation of item-level features’ relationship with DIF and is more parsimonious than a two-stage model. This simulation study assessed the parameter recovery and stability of the proposed model across 36 different conditions created by varying four parameters: the strength of the correlation between the amount of DIF and the item-level features, the proportion of examinees in the reference group, and the mean and mixture probability of the mixture distribution used to sample items’ DIF. The model successfully recovered person and item parameters, differences in groups’ mean ability, and the relationship between the amount of DIF observed in an item and the presence of DIF-related item-level features. Model performance varied according to the values of the four parameters used to create conditions, especially the proportion of examinees in the reference group, which exhibited meaningful effect sizes in ANOVAs used to assess the parameters’ impact on MSE and affected the model’s power to detect DIF. When there were equal numbers of examinees in the reference and focal groups, the power to detect DIF increased, but at the expense of higher false positive rates and poorer precision.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27547
    Collections
    • Dissertations [3958]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps