Detecting differential item functioning with confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory: Toward a unified strategy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Stark, Stephen; Chernyshenko, Eksandr S.; Drasgow, Fritz
• 署名单位: State University System of Florida; University of South Florida; University of Canterbury; University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.91.6.1292
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 1292-1306
• 关键词: IRT; DIF; CFA; MACS; measurement equivalence

摘要

In this article, the authors developed a common strategy for identifying differential item functioning (DIF) items that can be implemented in both the mean and covariance structures method (MACS) and item response theory (IRT). They proposed examining the loadings (discrimination) and the intercept (location) parameters simultaneously using the likelihood ratio test with a free-baseline model and Bonferrom corrected critical p values. They compared the relative efficacy of this approach with alternative implementations for various types and amounts of DIF, sample sizes, numbers of response categories, and amounts of impact (latent mean differences). Results indicated that the proposed strategy was considerably more effective than an alternative approach involving a constrained-baseline model. Both MACS and IRT performed similarly well in the majority of experimental conditions. As expected, MACS performed slightly worse in dichotomous conditions but better than IRT in polytomous cases where sample sizes were small. Also, contrary to popular belief, MACS performed well in conditions where DIF was simulated on item thresholds (item means), and its accuracy was not affected by impact.