Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the item model fit by equating the forms of the PISA 2018 mathematics subtest with concurrent common items equating in samples from Türkiye, the UK, and Italy. The answers given in mathematics subtest Forms 2, 8, and 12 were used in this context. Analyzes were p...

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Main Authors: Zeynep Uzun, Tuncay Öğretmen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Large-scale Assessments in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40536-025-00244-z
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author Zeynep Uzun
Tuncay Öğretmen
author_facet Zeynep Uzun
Tuncay Öğretmen
author_sort Zeynep Uzun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the item model fit by equating the forms of the PISA 2018 mathematics subtest with concurrent common items equating in samples from Türkiye, the UK, and Italy. The answers given in mathematics subtest Forms 2, 8, and 12 were used in this context. Analyzes were performed using the Dichotomous Rasch Model in the WINSTEPS program. Concurrent common item equating was used for the equating process in two ways for each country: keeping and removing items showing DIF. Item model fits obtained as a result of concurrent equating analyses were compared between equated form pairs and between selected countries. As a result, when the DIF status of the items was examined, it was observed that the DIF status of the common items varied between forms. In addition, it was concluded that items displaying DIF impacted the functioning of the common items. Therefore, it is recommended that the DIF status of items be taken into account in concurrent equating, as DIF can influence the performance of common items. However, it was observed that the presence of DIF did not significantly impact the equating results when common items that did not function equivalently across forms were removed. When item fit to the model was evaluated in concurrent estimations across countries, the UK emerged as the sample where items best fit the model for Form 2. For Form 8, the best item fit was observed in the Italy sample, while for Form 12, items in both the Italy and UK samples demonstrated better model fit.
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issn 2196-0739
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spelling doaj-art-552df417667842cfa64a0e626a528c062025-08-20T02:15:28ZengSpringerOpenLarge-scale Assessments in Education2196-07392025-05-0113112510.1186/s40536-025-00244-zImpact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating methodZeynep Uzun0Tuncay Öğretmen1Faculty of Education, Ege UniversityFaculty of Education, Ege UniversityAbstract This study aimed to evaluate the item model fit by equating the forms of the PISA 2018 mathematics subtest with concurrent common items equating in samples from Türkiye, the UK, and Italy. The answers given in mathematics subtest Forms 2, 8, and 12 were used in this context. Analyzes were performed using the Dichotomous Rasch Model in the WINSTEPS program. Concurrent common item equating was used for the equating process in two ways for each country: keeping and removing items showing DIF. Item model fits obtained as a result of concurrent equating analyses were compared between equated form pairs and between selected countries. As a result, when the DIF status of the items was examined, it was observed that the DIF status of the common items varied between forms. In addition, it was concluded that items displaying DIF impacted the functioning of the common items. Therefore, it is recommended that the DIF status of items be taken into account in concurrent equating, as DIF can influence the performance of common items. However, it was observed that the presence of DIF did not significantly impact the equating results when common items that did not function equivalently across forms were removed. When item fit to the model was evaluated in concurrent estimations across countries, the UK emerged as the sample where items best fit the model for Form 2. For Form 8, the best item fit was observed in the Italy sample, while for Form 12, items in both the Italy and UK samples demonstrated better model fit.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40536-025-00244-zRasch measurement modelConcurrent common item equatingDifferential item functioning
spellingShingle Zeynep Uzun
Tuncay Öğretmen
Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
Large-scale Assessments in Education
Rasch measurement model
Concurrent common item equating
Differential item functioning
title Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
title_full Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
title_fullStr Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
title_full_unstemmed Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
title_short Impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
title_sort impact of differential item functioning on item model fit using concurrent equating method
topic Rasch measurement model
Concurrent common item equating
Differential item functioning
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40536-025-00244-z
work_keys_str_mv AT zeynepuzun impactofdifferentialitemfunctioningonitemmodelfitusingconcurrentequatingmethod
AT tuncayogretmen impactofdifferentialitemfunctioningonitemmodelfitusingconcurrentequatingmethod