Mitigating Omitted Variable Bias in Exploratory Differential Item Functioning Assessment: A Propensity Score Adjustment Approach

Hsiu-Yi Chao, Jyun-Hong Chen and Chi-Chen Chen
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Hsiu-Yi Chao: Soochow University
Jyun-Hong Chen: National Cheng Kung University
Chi-Chen Chen: National Academy for Educational Research

Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 2025, vol. 50, issue 6, 927-961

Abstract: Omitted variable bias (OVB) in differential item functioning (DIF) assessment can lead to biased estimates of DIF effects, increasing type I error rates and reducing statistical power. Methodologies for addressing OVB, particularly under exploratory conditions where DIF is assessed without prior information, remain underdeveloped. This study addresses these challenges by applying the propensity score (PS) method to enhance the parsimony of the DIF model. Furthermore, this study incorporated the DIF-free-then-DIF (DFTD) strategy into the PS method, establishing the PS.DFTD method for exploratory DIF assessment. The simulation results reveal that the PS.DFTD method appears promising for mitigating OVB in DIF assessment, demonstrating its potential for practical applications.

Keywords: differential item functioning; omitted variable bias; propensity score method; DIF-free-then-DIF strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jedbes:v:50:y:2025:i:6:p:927-961

DOI: 10.3102/10769986241280308

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