Fondness of Math and Science as Measured by the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) Student Questionnaire: Invariance Across U.S. Ethnic Groups

• In Event: Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Evaluating Measurement Invariance

Abstract

Recent attention to globalized competition in the marketplace has given rise to renewed interest in international educational assessments among both policy makers and educators. Effective assessments require tools that provide measures of the same constructs across diverse groups to ensure that the resulting scores have the same meaning for members of these different groups. This study examines measurement invariance for items designed to measure math and science liking (or fondness) constructs on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) instrument across three major ethnic groups residing in the United States. Results are suggestive of partial invariance across groups. Implications for researchers employing this measure, or interpreting results from its use, across these groups are considered.

Authors

• Kathan Dushyant Shukla, University of Virginia

• Timothy R. Konold, University of Virginia