Creating a developmentally sensitive measure of adolescent alcohol misuse: an application of item response theory.
This study, funded by the US National Institute of Drug Abuse, evaluates the usefulness of item response theory (IRT) to create a developmental alcohol misuse scale. Data were collected during 1997-2006 from 5,828 Midwestern US students who completed annual surveys at grades 7 through 11 and 2 and 4 years after high school. Seventeen alcohol misuse items were calibrated with IRT and examined for differential item functioning (DIF) across 5 study waves. Eight items displayed DIF; in most cases, properties for items assessed 2 years after high school were different from those assessed in grades 8-11. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Edelen
Maria Orlando
MO
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138, USA. maria edelen@rand.org
McCaffrey
Daniel F
DF
Ellickson
Phyllis L
PL
Tucker
Joan S
JS
Klein
David J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055815:Young Adult