title: Differential item functioning in the Mini-Mental State Examination in English- and Spanish-speaking older adults.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMS; M. F. Folstein, S. E. Folstein, & P. R. McHugh, 1975) demonstrates item bias with respect to measuring cognitive functioning of older Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Assessment of differential item functioning (DIF) of individual MMS items across 3 language/ethnicity groups (English test administration/non-Hispanic ethnicity, English test administration/Hispanic ethnicity, and Spanish test administration/Hispanic ethnicity) was performed by using a logistic regression procedure. Fifteen of the 26 MMS items were significantly related to total score and were shown to provide unbiased measurement across the 3 groups. Normative data are presented for older Hispanics (n = 365) and non-Hispanics (n = 388) on the raw MMS, a 15-item version in which items with significant DIF were eliminated, and a total score statistically adjusted for effects of education and age.
authors.affiliation: Berkshire Medical Ctr.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mungas
authors.forename: Minda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019303:Multilingualism; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011336:Probability; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results