Item Response Theory and Differential Item Functioning Analyses With the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised in US and Chinese Samples

Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Mei Yiu Huen ◽  
Paul Siu Fai Yip ◽  
Augustine Osman ◽  
Angel Nga Man Leung

Abstract. Background: Despite the widespread use of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised (SBQ-R) and advances in item response theory (IRT) modeling, item-level analysis with the SBQ-R has been minimal. Aims: This study extended IRT modeling strategies to examine the response parameters and potential differential item functioning (DIF) of the individual SBQ-R items in samples of US ( N = 320) and Chinese ( N = 298) undergraduate students. Method: Responses to the items were calibrated using the unidimensional graded response IRT model. Goodness-of-fit, item parameters, and DIF were evaluated. Results: The unidimensional graded response IRT model provided a good fit to the sample data. Results showed that the SBQ-R items had various item discrimination parameters and item severity parameters. Also, each SBQ-R item functioned similarly between the US and Chinese respondents. In particular, Item 1 (history of attempts) demonstrated high discrimination and severity of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Limitations: The use of cross-sectional data from convenience samples of undergraduate students could be considered a major limitation. Conclusion: The findings from the IRT analysis provided empirical support that each SBQ-R item taps into STBs and that scores for Item 1 can be used for screening purposes.

Author(s):  
Abdul Wahab Ibrahim

The study used statistical procedures based on Item Response Theory to detect Differential Item Functioning (DIF) in polytomous tests. These were with a view to improving the quality of test items construction. The sample consisted of an intact class of 513 Part 3 undergraduate students who registered for the course EDU 304: Tests and Measurement at Sule Lamido University during 2017/2018 Second Semester. A self-developed polytomous research instrument was used to collect data. Data collected were analysed using Generalized Mantel Haenszel, Simultaneous Item Bias Test, and Logistic Discriminant Function Analysis. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between the proportions of test items that function differentially in the polytomous test when the different statistical methods are used.  Further, the three parametric and non-parametric methods complement each other in their ability to detect DIF in the polytomous test format as all of them have capacity to detect DIF but perform differently. The study concluded that there was a high degree of correspondence between the three procedures in their ability to detect DIF in polytomous tests. It was recommended that test experts and developers should consider using procedure based on Item Response Theory in DIF detection.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 604-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Fukuhara ◽  
Akihito Kamata

A differential item functioning (DIF) detection method for testlet-based data was proposed and evaluated in this study. The proposed DIF model is an extension of a bifactor multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) model for testlets. Unlike traditional item response theory (IRT) DIF models, the proposed model takes testlet effects into account, thus estimating DIF magnitude appropriately when a test is composed of testlets. A fully Bayesian estimation method was adopted for parameter estimation. The recovery of parameters was evaluated for the proposed DIF model. Simulation results revealed that the proposed bifactor MIRT DIF model produced better estimates of DIF magnitude and higher DIF detection rates than the traditional IRT DIF model for all simulation conditions. A real data analysis was also conducted by applying the proposed DIF model to a statewide reading assessment data set.


2001 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Schaap

The objective of this article is to present the results of an investigation into the item and test characteristics of two tests of the Potential Index Batteries (PIB) in terms of differential item functioning (DIP) and the effect thereof on test scores of different race groups. The English Vocabulary (Index 12) and Spelling Tests (Index 22) of the PIB were analysed for white, black and coloured South Africans. Item response theory (IRT) methods were used to identify items which function differentially for white, black and coloured race groups. Opsomming Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die resultate van n ondersoek na die item- en toetseienskappe van twee PIB (Potential Index Batteries) toetse in terme van itemsydigheid en die invloed wat dit op die toetstellings van rassegroepe het, weer te gee. Die Potential Index Batteries (PIB) se Engelse Woordeskat (Index 12) en Spellingtoetse (Index 22) is ten opsigte van blanke, swart en gekleurde Suid-Afrikaners ontleed. Itemresponsteorie (IRT) is gebruik om items te identifiseer wat as sydig (DIP) vir die onderskeie rassegroepe beskou kan word.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 758-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
OTTO PEDRAZA ◽  
NEILL R. GRAFF-RADFORD ◽  
GLENN E. SMITH ◽  
ROBERT J. IVNIK ◽  
FLOYD B. WILLIS ◽  
...  

AbstractScores on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) are frequently lower for African American when compared with Caucasian adults. Although demographically based norms can mitigate the impact of this discrepancy on the likelihood of erroneous diagnostic impressions, a growing consensus suggests that group norms do not sufficiently address or advance our understanding of the underlying psychometric and sociocultural factors that lead to between-group score discrepancies. Using item response theory and methods to detect differential item functioning (DIF), the current investigation moves beyond comparisons of the summed total score to examine whether the conditional probability of responding correctly to individual BNT items differs between African American and Caucasian adults. Participants included 670 adults age 52 and older who took part in Mayo’s Older Americans and Older African Americans Normative Studies. Under a two-parameter logistic item response theory framework and after correction for the false discovery rate, 12 items where shown to demonstrate DIF. Of these 12 items, 6 (“dominoes,” “escalator,” “muzzle,” “latch,” “tripod,” and “palette”) were also identified in additional analyses using hierarchical logistic regression models and represent the strongest evidence for race/ethnicity-based DIF. These findings afford a finer characterization of the psychometric properties of the BNT and expand our understanding of between-group performance. (JINS, 2009, 15, 758–768.)


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1099-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Mueller ◽  
Daniel L. Segal ◽  
Brandon Gavett ◽  
Meghan A. Marty ◽  
Brian Yochim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS; Segal et al. (Segal, D. L., June, A., Payne, M., Coolidge, F. L. and Yochim, B. (2010). Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 709–714. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.05.002) is a self-report measure of anxiety that was designed to address unique issues associated with anxiety assessment in older adults. This study is the first to use item response theory (IRT) to examine the psychometric properties of a measure of anxiety in older adults.Method:A large sample of older adults (n = 581; mean age = 72.32 years, SD = 7.64 years, range = 60 to 96 years; 64% women; 88% European American) completed the GAS. IRT properties were examined. The presence of differential item functioning (DIF) or measurement bias by age and sex was assessed, and a ten-item short form of the GAS (called the GAS-10) was created.Results:All GAS items had discrimination parameters of 1.07 or greater. Items from the somatic subscale tended to have lower discrimination parameters than items on the cognitive or affective subscales. Two items were flagged for DIF, but the impact of the DIF was negligible. Women scored significantly higher than men on the GAS and its subscales. Participants in the young-old group (60 to 79 years old) scored significantly higher on the cognitive subscale than participants in the old-old group (80 years old and older).Conclusions:Results from the IRT analyses indicated that the GAS and GAS-10 have strong psychometric properties among older adults. We conclude by discussing implications and future research directions.


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