A Differential Item Functioning Analysis of the Sources of Research Self-Efficacy Scale Using Rasch Measurement

• In Event: Advanced Psychometric Analyses in Rasch Modeling

Abstract

This study presents the results of a differential item functioning analysis of the Sources of Research Self-Efficacy (SRSE) scale in a college setting. Using responses from 720 university students, we use Rasch measurement to calculate standardized differences in item difficulty estimates for three focal/reference group pairs: (a) graduate and undergraduate students, (b) first-generation and non-first-generation students, and (c) minority and nonminority students. Results suggest that for all subscales, items on the SRSE subscales were relatively DIF-free for the minority/nonminority and first-generation/non-first-generation subgroups. Some DIF was present for the graduate/undergraduate subgroups. For this dichotomy, DIF differences may have been due to the groups representing different time points on a continuum of academic research experience.

Authors

• Eli Andrew Jones, University of Memphis

• Leigh M. Harrell-Williams, University of Memphis

• Luke Walden, Union University

• Justine Piontek, University of Memphis