Studying Differential Item Functioning via Latent Variable Modeling: A Note on a Multiple-Testing Procedure
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Published online on February 26, 2013
Abstract
This note is concerned with a latent variable modeling approach for the study of differential item functioning in a multigroup setting. A multiple-testing procedure that can be used to evaluate group differences in response probabilities on individual items is discussed. The method is readily employed when the aim is also to locate possible sources of differential item functioning in homogenous behavioral measuring instruments across two or more populations under investigation. The approach is readily applicable using the popular software Mplus and R and is illustrated with a numerical example.