Monitoring Countries in a Changing World: A New Look at DIF in International Surveys

Robert J. Zwitser (), S. Sjoerd F. Glaser and Gunter Maris
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Robert J. Zwitser: University of Amsterdam
S. Sjoerd F. Glaser: University of Amsterdam
Gunter Maris: University of Amsterdam

Psychometrika, 2017, vol. 82, issue 1, No 10, 210-232

Abstract: Abstract This paper discusses the issue of differential item functioning (DIF) in international surveys. DIF is likely to occur in international surveys. What is needed is a statistical approach that takes DIF into account, while at the same time allowing for meaningful comparisons between countries. Some existing approaches are discussed and an alternative is provided. The core of this alternative approach is to define the construct as a large set of items, and to report in terms of summary statistics. Since the data are incomplete, measurement models are used to complete the incomplete data. For that purpose, different models can be used across countries. The method is illustrated with PISA’s reading literacy data. The results indicate that this approach fits the data better than the current PISA methodology; however, the league tables are nearly identical. The implications for monitoring changes over time are discussed.

Keywords: differential item functioning; DIF; ranking; robustness; educational testing; programme for international student assessment; PISA; Rasch models; reading literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11336-016-9543-8

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