ERIC Number: EJ690005
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1644
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Available Date: N/A
Gender and Language Differences on the Test of Workplace Essential Skills: Using Overall Mean Scores and Item-Level Differential Item Functioning Analyses
Kline, Theresa J. B.
Educational and Psychological Measurement, v64 n3 p549-559 Jun 2004
The Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) assesses cognitive skills in three areas using the following three separate subscales: Reading Text, Document Use, and Numeracy in Working-Age Adults. The sample was composed of 2,688 working-age English-speaking Canadians who came from a variety of settings (e.g., trades training programs, adult education centers, college programs, and athletic clubs). The relationships between subscale test performance and the demographic variables of gender and language showed there were some group differences in mean levels of performance. However, at most, these differences accounted for less than 3% of the variance in performance on any subscale. In addition, differential item functioning analyses using the BILOG-MG program showed that at the item level, little or no gender or language bias was present. Recommendations based on the findings are presented.
Descriptors: Test Bias, Job Skills, Workplace Literacy, Adult Literacy, Foreign Countries, Gender Differences, English (Second Language), Numeracy, Cognitive Ability, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Scores, Evaluation Research
Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-583-2665 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A