A Comparison of Mantel-Haenszel and the Area Difference Between Item Characteristic Curves Index Techniques for Detecting Differential Item Functioning

Abstract

The study is aimed at comparing between Mantel-Haenszel-MH chi-square and the area difference between three item characteristic curves Index -3ICCs by using Raju’s index to detect the differential item functioning DIF in post-graduate general aptitude test according to gender variable. The study sample of (2280) students was distributed equally between male and female groups. The MH techniques revealed a uniform DIF in (43) items, equal to (45%) of the items in post-graduate general aptitude test. 3ICCs technique, revealed a uniform DIF based on gender in two items, equals to (2%) of item's test. MH technique revealed more efficiency in detecting differential item functioning in post-graduate general aptitude test compared to area difference between 3ICCs. The agreement rate was low between these two techniques. Based on these results, the researchers recommended to use more than one technique when detecting the differential item functioning. Keywords: Differential Item Functioning, Mantel-Haenszel, The three-parameter logistic model, post-graduate general aptitude test.