Increasingly, researchers interested in identifying potentially biased test items are encouraged to use a confirmatory, rather than exploratory, approach. One such method for confirmatory testing is rooted in differential bundle functioning (DBF), where hypotheses regarding potential differential item functioning (DIF) for sets of items (bundles)…

The question of possible racial bias in the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), the issue crucial to future tests of the constitutionality of preferential admissions, is explored with the conclusion that uncertainties in this area should not overshadow the necessity for reexamination of law school admission criteria. (JT)

Compares men's and women's performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and suggests that the math section may have penalized women, since they scored equally to men on other sections. Questions the validity of mathematics performance as a predictor of success in law school and as a lawyer. (GC)

This study investigated the applicability to computerized adaptive testing (CAT) data of a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis that involves an empirical Bayes (EB) enhancement of the popular Mantel Haenszel (MH) DIF analysis method. The computerized Law School Admission Test (LSAT) assumed for this study was similar to that currently…

Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses are conducted to investigate how items function in various subgroups. The Mantel-Haenszel (MH) DIF statistic is used at the Law School Admission Council and other testing companies. When item functioning can be well-described in terms of a one- or two-parameter logistic item response theory (IRT) model…

This study examined the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) through the use of testlet methods to model its inherent, locally dependent structure. Precision, measured by reliability, and fairness, measured by the comparability of performance across all identified subgroups of examinees, were the focus of the study. The polytomous item response theory…

Analysis of the 1991 Law School Admission Test (LSAT) shows that the testlet structure of the reading comprehension and analytic reasoning sections has a significant effect on the statistical characteristics of the test. The testlet-based reliability of these two sections is lower than had been previously calculated. (SLD)

The Mantel-Haenszel (MH) differential item functioning (DIF) parameter for uniform DIF is well defined when item responses follow the two-parameter-logistic (2PPL) item response function (IRF), but not when they follow the three-parameter-logistic (3PL) IRF, the model typically used with multiple choice items. This research report presents a…

Study to determine whether potential bias exists in the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) which fee-free center candidates do not complete in the time available in as large a proportion as regular center candidates. (MB)

Test-item writing efforts typically results in item pools with an undesirable correlational structure between the content attributes of the items and their statistical information. If such pools are used in computerized adaptive testing (CAT), the algorithm may be forced to select items with less than optimal information, that violate the content…

This is the final report and critique which investigated the law school admissions process, and especially the role of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within that process, for possible bias against minority applicants. The study involved the reanalysis of existing data. Results show that current admission policies unfairly limit the…

Specially constructed "speeded" and "unspeeded" forms of a Reading Comprehension section of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) were administered to regular center and fee-free center LSAT candidates in an effort to determine: (1) if the test was more speeded for fee-free candidates, and (2) if reducing the amount of…

Use of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and undergraduate grade point average for members of minority groups are examined in relationship to recent LSAT studies and related research on admissions tests and test bias. Traditional predictors of law school grades were found to be as accurate for minority as for majority persons. (JT)

The nonprofit corporation that performs standardized testing for law school admission has in recent years produced $100 million in profits. For minority groups who tend to score poorly on the test, the question is why the corporation refuses to dedicate some of its wealth to commissioning an independent study of whether test results correlate with…

A study evaluated the accuracy of Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores in predicting student law school performance. Male and female scores and White, Black, or Hispanic scores were compared. Data were drawn from 1987 and 1988 graduating classes of five geographically diverse law schools. No significant differences between groups were found.…