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Explanatory Secondary Dimension Modeling of Latent Different Item Functioning. Paul De Boeck, Sun-Joo Cho, and Mark Wilson. DIF. Conditional on person latent trait, different manifest groups have different probabilities to answer correctly/endorse an item. (manifest DIF)
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Explanatory Secondary Dimension Modeling of Latent Different Item Functioning Paul De Boeck, Sun-Joo Cho, and Mark Wilson
DIF • Conditional on person latent trait, different manifest groups have different probabilities to answer correctly/endorse an item. (manifest DIF) • DIF as the consequence of neglecting the “nuisance dimensions”. (secondary dimensions)
This study • Latent DIF: DIF between latent classes, i.e., a non-DIF vs a DIF latent class • group membership not observed or unobservable • The observed membership not reliable or not valid • Mixed dimensionality: the secondary dimension in the DIF latent class, but not in the non-DIF latent class • Multidimensional model for DIF (MMD) (Roussos & Stout, 1996) • One dimensionality approach: Multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) approach
MMD: a secondary dimension in both manifest groups • MIMIC: neither of the classes has a secondary dimension but a direct effect of the group variable on the primary dimension (exceptional: Glockner-Rist & Hoijtink, 2003) • Mixed dimensionality: a secondary dimension but only in the DIF latent class (but may have some problems)
Measurement Invariance Notions • Scalar variance: difference in item difficulties (intercept in factor model) and implies uniform DIF • Metric variance: difference in item discriminations (loadings in factor model) and implies nonuniform DIF • Relate the idea of mixed dimensionality to measurement invariance: With secondary dimension, scalar invariance (equivalence of difficulties) are regain (M2a vs M1a).
Outline of the Study • Aim: to show the implication and application of a mixed dimensionality model into the latent DIF • (1) Models specification • (2) Model Estimation and Evaluation • (3) Model application (Speededness & Arithmetic operation)
Models • Non-DIF One-Dimensional Mixture Models (1d-non-DIF; Model 0) • αi and biare the same in both groups; • , (model identification) • 2I + 3 para (I difficulties, I discriminations, a mean and variance of DIF latent class, and a mixing probability (Mixture 2PL model)
One dimensional difficulty DIF mixture model (1d-bdif; Model 1a) • biare different between groups • Lack of scalar invariance, uniform DIF • 2I+D+3 para (D items showing latent DIF)
One dimensional difficulty and discrimination DIF mixture model (1d-abdif; Model 1b) • αi and bi are different between groups • Lack of scalar and metric invariance, uniform and nonuniform DIF • 2(I+D)+3 para (D items showing latent DIF)
Mixture of one-dimensional and two-dimensional model(1&2d-DIF, Model 2a) • For DIF latent class, (qf1, qf2)’ ~ BVN(m,S). ( ) • 2I+D+4 free paras • One discrimination for a DIF items in dimension 2 of DIF latent class is fixed to 1.00. (over constrain)
Features of Model 2a: • (1) no difference in difficulty between two latent traits • (2) metric invariance of primary dimension & scalar invariance • Implication of Model 2a: • (1) Respondents from the DIF latent class differ with respect to how much DIF they show (qpf2); • All DIF is assumed to rely on the secondary dimension
Mixture of one-dimensional and two-dimensional model with discrimination DIF (1&2d-adif, Model 2b) • 2(I+D)+3 free parameters • Scalar invariance • Cov sf12 is fixed to zero (over constrained)
Two-dimensional mixture models(2d-DIF and 2d-aDIF/ Models 3a and 3b): introduce the second dimension to the non-DIF latent class • Model 3a: Measurement-invariance • Model 3b: scalar invariance, configural invariance
Aim of Applications • Preliminary question: whether any DIF occurs at the level of latent classes (M0 vs M1a & 1b) • Whether a secondary dimension in the DIF latent class can explain the bDIF? (M1a vs M2a; or M1b vs M2b) • Is the DIF of a kind that the discrimination on the primary dimension is affected? (M1a vs M1b or M2a vs M2b) • Is the secondary dimension limited to the DIF latent class or does it also apply to the non-DIF latent class? (M2a vs M3a, or M2b vs M3b)
Model Estimation & Evaluation • LatentGOLD 4.5 Syntax Cluster module (Vermunt & Magidson, 2007) • Two major problems in mixture model: (1) Label switch; (2) multiple local maxima • Model specification in LatentGOLD • LRT (for nested models), AIC, BIC
Results of Speededness Data First 23 items were assumed no speededness while last 8 items has (item location). Speeded vs no speeded latent class
M1a and 1b fit much better than M0, suggesting that DIF exist at the level of latent class; • First horizontal comparison (M2a> M1a; M2b>M1b) suggests the mixed dimensionality approach is favored. • Vertical comparison (M1b>M1a;M2b>M2a) suggests discrimination DIF is related to the primary dimension. Thus, M2b is chose. • Second comparison (M3b is not significantly better than M2b) suggests secondary dimension not need to extend to the non-DIF latent class.
p=0.311, speeded class is a minority class; • Nonzero discriminations on the second dimension for the DIF items in the speeded class; the discrimination of items on the primary dimension differ between two latent classes. • For DIF class, mean=(-0.634,-0.987)’,var-cov=(0.787, 0; 0, 1), suggesting that the speeded class has a lower ability and being speeded at the end of the test seems not to help. • Validation check for the DIF items
Confirmatory and exploratory two-dimensional models without latent classes were not supported by AIC and BIC.
Results of Arithmetic Operations Data • Class 1 (Poorer on the division items) vs class 2 (proficient)
DIF exist between two latent classes; • Secondary dimension helps; • The primary dimension discrimination DIF is not strongly supported. Hence, M2a is favored. • No needed to extend the second dimension to the non-DIF latent class.
For DIF class, mean=(-1.150,-2.945)’,var-cov=(1.034, 0.353*sqrt(1.034); 0.353*sqrt(1.034), 1). • p=0.292 • AIC supported exploratory two-dimensional model without latent class but BIC did not.
Conclusions • Mixed dimensionality approach are supported by the generally better goodness of fit. • It was sufficient to include the secondary dimension in only one of the latent class. • Mixed dimensionality approach has some merits (for latent DIF, explaining DIF…) • Mixed dimensionality approach should primarily be used for confirmatory and explanatory purposes, but not for exploratory or detection purpose. (problematic)
Discussions & Future Studies • The mixed dimensionality approach have some problems (not usual; local dependence). • To define item properties which are not available as the clue of the suspected DIF before the secondary dimension approach can be implemented. • Applied mixed dimensionality approach to manifest groups, to study cognitive development, mutiple strategies…
Applied the mixture approach within the cognitive development theoretical framework • Whether individual differences in DIF is proper?