Differential Item Functioning

Paul W. Holland, Howard Wainer

Contents: M.J. Ree, Foreword -- DIF: A Perspective From the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory. P.W. Holland, H. Wainer, Preface. Part I:Introduction and Background.W.H. Angoff, Perspectives on Differential Item Functioning Methodology. N.S. Cole, History and Development of DIF. Part II:Statistical Methodology.N.J. Dorans, P.W. Holland, DIF Detection and Description: Mantel-Haenszel and Standardization. D. Thissen, L. Steinberg, H. Wainer, Detection of Differential Item Functioning Using the Parameters of Item Response Models. R.D. Bock, Different DIFs: Comment on the Papers Read by Neil Dorans and David Thissen. H. Wainer, Model-Based Standardized Measurement of an Item's Differential Impact. J.R. Donoghue, P.W. Holland, D.T. Thayer, A Monte Carlo Study of Factors That Affect the Mantel-Haenszel and Standardization Measures of Differential Item Functioning. J.O. Ramsay, Comments on the Monte Carlo Study of Donoghue, Holland, and Thayer. N.T. Longford, P.W. Holland, D.T. Thayer, Stability of the MH D-DIF Statistics Across Populations. R.T. Shealy, W.F. Stout, An Item Response Theory Model for Test Bias and Differential Test Functioning. N.L. Allen, P.W. Holland, A Model for Missing Information About the Group Membership of Examinees in DIF Studies. Part III:Practical Questions and Empirical Investigations.K.A. O'Neill, W.M. McPeek, Item and Test Characteristics That are Associated with Differential Item Functioning. L. Bond, Comments on the O'Neill and McPeek Paper. A.P. Schmitt, P.W. Holland, N.J. Dorans, Evaluating Hypotheses About Differential Item Functioning. C. Lewis, A Note on the Value of Including the Studied Item in the Test Score When Analyzing Test Items for DIF. E. Burton, N.W. Burton, The Effect of Item Screening on Test Scores and Test Characteristics. M. Zieky, Practical Questions in the Use of DIF Statistics in Test Development. R.L. Linn, The Use of Differential Item Functioning Statistics: A Discussion of Current Practice and Future Implications. Part IV:Ancillary Issues.P.A. Ramsey, Sensitivity Review: The ETS Experience as a Case Study. P.H. McAllister, Testing, DIF, and Public Policy. G. Camilli, The Case Against Item Bias Detection Techniques Based on Internal Criteria: Do Item Bias Procedures Obscure Test Fairness Issues? Part V:Concluding Remarks and Suggestions.