Differential Item Functioning in Biodata: Opportunity Access as an Explanation of Gender- and Race-Related DIF |
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| Authors: | Anna Imus Brian Kim Frederick L Oswald Stephanie Merritt Alyssa Friede Wrestring |
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| Institution: | 1. Southern California Edison;2. Department of Psychology , Occidental College;3. Department of Psychology , Rice University;4. Department of Psychology , University of Missouri , St. Louis;5. Department of Management , DePaul University |
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| Abstract: | Investigations of differential item functioning (DIF) have been conducted mostly on ability tests and have found little evidence of easily interpretable differences across various demographic subgroups. In this study, we examined the degree to which DIF in biographical data items referencing academically relevant background, experiences, and interests was related to differences in judgments about access to these experiences by members of different gender and race subgroups. DIF in the location parameter was significantly related (r = –.51, p < .01) to gender differences in perceived accessibility to experience. No significant relationships with accessibility were observed for DIF in the slope parameter across gender groups or for the slope and location parameters associated with DIF across Black and White groups. Practical implications for use of biodata and theoretical implications for DIF research are discussed. |
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