ERIC Number: EJ843853
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 31
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1540-2525
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Differential Item Functioning of GRE Mathematics Items across Computerized and Paper-and-Pencil Testing Media
Gu, Lixiong; Drake, Samuel; Wolfe, Edward W.
Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment, v5 n4 Dec 2006
This study seeks to determine whether item features are related to observed differences in item difficulty (DIF) between computer- and paper-based test delivery media. Examinees responded to 60 quantitative items similar to those found on the GRE general test in either a computer-based or paper-based medium. Thirty-eight percent of the items were flagged for cross-medium DIF, and "post hoc" content analyses were performed focusing on page formatting, mathematical notation, and mathematical content of the items. Although findings suggest that differences in page formatting and response processes across the delivery media contribute little to the observed cross-medium DIF, differences in the mathematical notation contained in the item text as well as differences in the mathematical content of the items provided the strongest apparent relationships with cross-medium DIF. (Contains 2 endnotes, 7 tables, and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Test Bias, Test Items, Educational Testing, Student Evaluation, College Entrance Examinations, Computer Assisted Testing, Educational Technology, Test Format, Test Content, Comparative Testing, Printed Materials, Methods Research, Graduate Study, Content Analysis
Technology and Assessment Study Collaborative. 332 Campion Hall, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Tel: 617-552-4521; Fax: 617-552-8419; e-mail: jtal_editor@bc.edu; Web site: http://escholarship.bc.edu/jtla
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Graduate Record Examinations
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