ERIC Number: ED161933
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1978-Mar-28
Pages: 37
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
An Investigation of Differential Item Performance by Sex on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.
Plake, Barbara S.; And Others
Three levels of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were studied to disclose the possible existence of sex bias in mathematics test items. Two mathematics tests (mathematical concepts and mathematics problem solving) and two comparison verbal tests (vocabulary and reading) were selected for analysis at three levels--grades 3, 6, and 8. Samples of 480 boys and 480 girls were selected from 48 Iowa school systems at each grade level. A three-factor analysis of variance design was used with items and sex considered fixed factors, and school systems a random factor. Out of 341 verbal items, there were 13 that appeared to favor girls and there were 16 that appeared to favor boys. Out of 213 mathematics items, there were 8 that appeared to favor girls and 11 that appeared to favor boys. The results of the study suggest that neither the verbal nor the mathematical subtests function differentially for male and female pupils at any of the three grade levels tested. (CTM)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Iowa Tests of Basic Skills
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A