Differential Item and Person Functioning in Large-Scale Writing Assessments Within the Context of the SAT Reasoning Test

• In Event: Studies in Rasch Conditions and Applications

Abstract

The major purpose of this study is to employ Differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Person Functioning (DPF) within a Rasch framework to better understand subgroup differences on the SAT-W. In this study, DIF and DPF are viewed as types of model-data misfit. The writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT) is used to illustrate DIF and DPF. The substantive research questions examine whether or not student characteristics (gender, race/ethnicity, and best language) influence DIF analyses, and also address whether or not subgroups of students function differentially on different SAT-W item subsets (Improving Sentences: 25 items, Identifying Sentence Errors: 18 items, and Improving Paragraphs: 6 items) designed to measure writing (DPF analyses).

Authors

• George Engelhard, Emory University

• Stefanie Anne Wind, Emory University

• Jennifer L. Kobrin, The College Board

• Michael Chajewski, The College Board