A computer simulation study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using logistic regression procedures to detect differential item functioning (DIF) in polytomous items. Results indicate that logistic regression is powerful in detecting most forms of DIF, although it requires large amounts of data manipulation and careful interpretation.…

Attempted to illuminate practical limitations on the Rasch model by focusing on the recovery of the density scale through five simulation trials. Results show that when error distributions are insufficient, the results may be ordinal at best, and when error distributions are nonsymmetrical, the positions of items may be biased with respect to the…

Presented nonparametric tests for testing the validity of polytomous unidimensional ordinal probabilistic polytomous item response theory models along with procedures for testing the comonotonicity of two item sets and for item selection. Describes advantages of the new approach. (SLD)

Any item response theory (IRT) researcher or practitioner will find something of interest in this book, which covers a broad range of topics in essays by well-known researchers. Chapters are organized into sections devoted to parametric and nonparametric IRT topics. (SLD)

Studied the Work Satisfaction subscale of the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) to determine the difference between measuring work stress and measuring work satisfaction. Results from samples of 1,623 and 314 adults provide evidence supporting the removal of some contaminating items from the JDI. (SLD)

Scales defined by most item response theory (IRT) models are truly invariant with respect to certain linear transformations of parameters. The problem is to find the proper transformation to place calibrations on a common scale. This paper explores issues of extending and adapting unidimensional linking procedures to multidimensional IRT models.…

Studied a two-stage methodology for evaluating differential item functioning (DIF) in large-scale assessment data using a sample of 60,000 students taking a large-scale assessment. Findings illustrate the merit of iterative approached for DIF detection, since items identified at one stage were not necessarily the same as those identified at the…

Investigated potentially biased scale items on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) in a sample of 600 adults. Overall, results indicate that the scoring method has an effect on differential item functioning (DIF), and that DIF is a property of the item, scoring method, and purpose of the assessment. (SLD)

Presents an overview of nonparametric regression as it allies to differential item functioning analysis and then provides three examples to illustrate how nonparametric regression can be applied to multilingual, multicultural data to study group differences. (SLD)

Data from over 50,000 people in 50 occupational groups were used to revise the Strong Interest Inventory. New General Reference Samples containing over 18,000 people were used to construct scales, and nearly every scale was revised. (SK)

Examined whether reviewers on item-review committees can identify accurately test items that exhibit a variety of flaws. Results with 39 reviewers of a 75-item test show that reviewers exhibit fairly high accuracy rates overall, with statistically significant differences in judgmental accuracy among reviewers. (SLD)

Studied the appropriateness and implications of using a generalizability theory approach to estimating the reliability of scores from tests composed of testlets. Analyses of data from two national standardization samples suggest that manipulating the number of passages is a more productive way to obtain efficient measurement than manipulating the…

Compared the person-response function (PRF) method for identifying examinees who respond to test items in a manner divergent from the underlying test model to the "l(z)" index of Drasgow and others (1985). Although performance of the "l(z)" index was superior in most cases, the PRF was useful in some conditions. (SLD)

Proposes an algorithm for the assembly of multiple test forms in which the multiple-form problem is reduced to a series of computationally less intensive two-form problems. Illustrates how the method can be implemented using 0-1 linear programming and gives two examples. (SLD)

Demonstrates a method for studying differential item functioning (DIF) that can be used with dichotomous or polytomous items and that is valid for data that follow a partial credit Item Response Theory model. A simulation study shows that positively biased Type I error rates are in accord with results from previous studies. (SLD)