Thesis
Ecological framework for item responding of a youth risk and needs assessment
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
Summer 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004029
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/124814
Abstract
The use and interpretation of educational and psychological tests are paramount to individual outcomes and opportunities. Methods for detecting a lack of item invariance or differential item functioning (DIF) are imperative for item analysis when developing and revising assessments, particularly as it pertains to fairness across various populations, languages, and cultures. A new third generation of DIF proposes an ecological framework for explaining why DIF occurs using sociological, community, and contextual variables as possible explanations of item responding. DIF was examined across school district clusters using random-intercept and random-coefficient models. Multilevel logistic regression analyses revealed that ethnic DIF does exist on a youth risk and needs assessment. Moreover, this study demonstrated how the use of district-level collected administrative data as estimates of student's contextual environments was used to explain sources of DIF. The implications of the work are that it progresses DIF research, enhances the approach to understanding item responses, and provides a more accurate understanding of youth development through an ecological framework. Recommendations for practice and future studies are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Ecological framework for item responding of a youth risk and needs assessment
- Creators
- Thao Thu Vo
- Contributors
- Brian F French (Chair) - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational PsychologyChad Martin Gotch (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational PsychologyShenghai Dai (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Educational Leadership, Sport Studies, and Educational/Counseling Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900890795101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis