title: Detecting differential item functioning with confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory: toward a unified strategy.
abstract: In this article, the authors developed a common strategy for identifying differential item functioning (DIF) items that can be implemented in both the mean and covariance structures method (MACS) and item response theory (IRT). They proposed examining the loadings (discrimination) and the intercept (location) parameters simultaneously using the likelihood ratio test with a free-baseline model and Bonferroni corrected critical p values. They compared the relative efficacy of this approach with alternative implementations for various types and amounts of DIF, sample sizes, numbers of response categories, and amounts of impact (latent mean differences). Results indicated that the proposed strategy was considerably more effective than an alternative approach involving a constrained-baseline model. Both MACS and IRT performed similarly well in the majority of experimental conditions. As expected, MACS performed slightly worse in dichotomous conditions but better than IRT in polytomous cases where sample sizes were small. Also, contrary to popular belief, MACS performed well in conditions where DIF was simulated on item thresholds (item means), and its accuracy was not affected by impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. sstark@cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Oleksandr S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Chernyshenko
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drasgow
mesh_terms: D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*