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Comparison of Parametric and Nonparametric Item Response Techniques in Determining Differential Item Functioning in Polytomous Scale

Received: 31 December 2013     Published: 20 March 2014
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Abstract

This study aims to compare parametric and nonparametric methods based on Item Response Theory in determining differential item functioning in polytomous scales. DIF analysis based on parametric IRT was conducted by using parameters comparison method. For nonparametric IRT analysis, DIF is determined by comparison of area indices pertaining to ICC obtained for reference and focal groups. The Comparisons were conducted on data sets from TIMSS 2011 8th Class students survey where data set pertaining to responses of students to "Attitudes Toward Mathematics" composing of samplings from Turkey and South Korea and it was determined if it incorporated DIF according to country and sex differences. It is observed that parametric and nonparametric methods produce generally similar results for DIF analysis in terms of countries. Nevertheless, DIF analysis results for country based sex groups differed according to techniques based on parametric and nonparametric IRT. Results of the study showed that items incorporating DIF differed as to preferred technique. This indicated importance of choosing the best technique in studies to detect whether scale items incorporates DIF or not.

Published in American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11
Page(s) 31-38
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Differential Item Functioning,Item Response Theory, Nonparametric Differential Item Functioning, Nonparametric IRT

References
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  • APA Style

    T. Oguz Basokcu, Tuncay Ogretmen. (2014). Comparison of Parametric and Nonparametric Item Response Techniques in Determining Differential Item Functioning in Polytomous Scale. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 3(2), 31-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11

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    ACS Style

    T. Oguz Basokcu; Tuncay Ogretmen. Comparison of Parametric and Nonparametric Item Response Techniques in Determining Differential Item Functioning in Polytomous Scale. Am. J. Theor. Appl. Stat. 2014, 3(2), 31-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11

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    AMA Style

    T. Oguz Basokcu, Tuncay Ogretmen. Comparison of Parametric and Nonparametric Item Response Techniques in Determining Differential Item Functioning in Polytomous Scale. Am J Theor Appl Stat. 2014;3(2):31-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11,
      author = {T. Oguz Basokcu and Tuncay Ogretmen},
      title = {Comparison of Parametric and Nonparametric Item Response Techniques in Determining Differential Item Functioning in Polytomous Scale},
      journal = {American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {31-38},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtas.20140302.11},
      abstract = {This study aims to compare parametric and nonparametric methods based on Item Response Theory in determining differential item functioning in polytomous scales. DIF analysis based on parametric IRT was conducted by using parameters comparison method. For nonparametric IRT analysis, DIF is determined by comparison of area indices pertaining to ICC obtained for reference and focal groups. The Comparisons were conducted on data sets from TIMSS 2011 8th Class students survey where data set pertaining to responses of students to "Attitudes Toward Mathematics" composing of samplings from Turkey and South Korea and it was determined if it incorporated DIF according to country and sex differences. It is observed that parametric and nonparametric methods produce generally similar results for DIF analysis in terms of countries. Nevertheless, DIF analysis results for country based sex groups differed according to techniques based on parametric and nonparametric IRT. Results of the study showed that items incorporating DIF differed as to preferred technique. This indicated importance of choosing the best technique in studies to detect whether scale items incorporates DIF or not.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    AU  - T. Oguz Basokcu
    AU  - Tuncay Ogretmen
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtas.20140302.11
    T2  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
    JF  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
    JO  - American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics
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    AB  - This study aims to compare parametric and nonparametric methods based on Item Response Theory in determining differential item functioning in polytomous scales. DIF analysis based on parametric IRT was conducted by using parameters comparison method. For nonparametric IRT analysis, DIF is determined by comparison of area indices pertaining to ICC obtained for reference and focal groups. The Comparisons were conducted on data sets from TIMSS 2011 8th Class students survey where data set pertaining to responses of students to "Attitudes Toward Mathematics" composing of samplings from Turkey and South Korea and it was determined if it incorporated DIF according to country and sex differences. It is observed that parametric and nonparametric methods produce generally similar results for DIF analysis in terms of countries. Nevertheless, DIF analysis results for country based sex groups differed according to techniques based on parametric and nonparametric IRT. Results of the study showed that items incorporating DIF differed as to preferred technique. This indicated importance of choosing the best technique in studies to detect whether scale items incorporates DIF or not.
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Author Information
  • Department of Assessment and Evaluation in Education, Ege University, ?zmir, Turkey

  • Department of Assessment and Evaluation in Education, Ege University, ?zmir, Turkey

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