Determining Gender Differential Item Functioning for Mathematics in Coeducational School Culture

Autor/in	Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari Suppiah
Titel	Determining Gender Differential Item Functioning for Mathematics in Coeducational School Culture
Quelle	In: Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 15 (2018) 2, S.83-109 (27 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1675-8110
Schlagwörter	Gender Differences; Test Bias; Coeducation; Foreign Countries; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Tests; International Assessment; Achievement Tests; Grade 8; Secondary School Students; Word Problems (Mathematics); Computation; School Culture; China; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Geschlechterkonflikt; Testkritik; Koedukation; Ausland; Mathmatics sikills; Mathmatics achievement; Mathematical ability; Mathematische Kompetenz; Achievement test; Achievement; Testing; Test; Tests; Leistungsbeurteilung; Leistungsüberprüfung; Leistung; Testdurchführung; Testen; School year 08; 8. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 08; Sekundarschüler; Textaufgabe; Schulkultur; Schulleben
Abstract	Purpose:In an attempt to explore item characteristics that behave differently between boys and girls, this comparative study examines gender Differential Item Functioning in a school culture that is noted to be 'thriving' mathematically. Methodology: Some 24 grade eight mathematics items from TIMSS 2003 and TIMSS 2007 released items, with equal number of computation and word problem items were administered on 460 boys and 445 girls studying in Grade Eight from three secondary Chinese-medium coeducational schools. Word problem items were defined as items set in a real-world context. Content validity was established by constructing a table of specifications. By employing the software WINSTEPS version 3.67.0 that is based on the Rasch Model for dichotomous responses, Differential Item Functioning analysis was conducted by using Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square method. DIF items were flagged when the Mantel-Haenszel probability value was less than 0.05 and classified as negligible, moderate or large DIF based on the DIF size suggested by Educational Testing Service DIF category. The focal and reference groups were girls and boys respectively. The main delimitation was substantive analysis by using expert judgment was not conducted to identify biased items. Findings: Using Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, two moderate DIF items that assess subtraction favoured girls. They assessed "Knowing" from topics "Whole Number" and "Fraction". Sources of DIF are linguistics density and item presentation style. The findings suggest that with only two moderate DIF mathematics items, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the mathematics items functioned differently between boys and girls in school culture noted for successful mathematics learning, even though linguistics complexities of the test language cannot be ignored. Significance: While constructing Mathematics multiple choice items, careful considerations need to be given in selecting suitable numbers in composing the content of the item so that, only the correct algorithm would produce the correct answer 'if and only if' those numbers are used. The modest results of detecting two moderate DIF items nevertheless inform national testing agencies and teacher educators on the principles of building fair items as a part of their test improvement practice in the 21st Century. The novelty of this study is that gender Differential Item Functioning was studied in the context of school culture, which is notable for successful mathematics learning. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Universiti Utara Malaysia Press. UUM Press, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 08010 UUM Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. Tel: +60-4-928-4816; Fax: +60-4-928-4792; e-mail: uumpress@uum.edu.my; Web site: http://mjli.uum.edu.my/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01