Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics
Persistent differences in performance between females and males on measures of physics conceptual learning have prompted interest in investigating and reducing the gender gap. Educators and researchers need to have confidence in their interpretations of results and want to know if observed group differences are artifacts of test bias or due to factors like background or instruction. A differential item functioning (DIF) analysis was conducted on responses to a widely used measure of conceptual learning to assess whether properties of the test itself, unrelated to student ability, influence performance by gender. Findings provide evidence that the test is not systematically biased in favor of males. However, three items did exhibit substantial DIF, two favoring males and one favoring females.
Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association
New Orleans, LA: April 7-11, 2011
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=13421">Osborn Popp, S, D. Meltzer, and C. Megowan-Romanowicz. "Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, April 7-11, 2011.</a>
AIP Format
S. Osborn Popp, D. Meltzer, and C. Megowan-Romanowicz, , presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, 2011, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012).
AJP/PRST-PER
S. Osborn Popp, D. Meltzer, and C. Megowan-Romanowicz, Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics, presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, 2011, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012>.
APA Format
Osborn Popp, S., Meltzer, D., & Megowan-Romanowicz, C. (2011, April 7-11). Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics. Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA. Retrieved December 13, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012
Chicago Format
Osborn Popp, S, D. Meltzer, and C. Megowan-Romanowicz. "Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, April 7-11, 2011. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012 (accessed 13 December 2024).
MLA Format
Osborn Popp, Sharon E., David Meltzer, and Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz. "Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics." Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. New Orleans, LA: 2011. 13 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Sharon E. Osborn Popp and David Meltzer and Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz",
Title = {Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics},
BookTitle = {Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association},
Address = {New Orleans, LA},
Month = {April 7-11},
Year = {2011}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Sharon E. Osborn Popp %A David Meltzer %A Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz %T Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics %D April 7-11 2011 %C New Orleans, LA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012 %O Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association %O April 7-11 %O application/ms-word
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Osborn Popp, Sharon E. %A Meltzer, David %A Megowan-Romanowicz, Colleen %D April 7-11 2011 %T Is the Force Concept Inventory Biased? Investigating Differential Item Functioning on a Test of Conceptual Learning in Physics %B Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association %C New Orleans, LA %8 April 7-11 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13421&DocID=4012 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |