Should Test Anxiety be Measured Differently for Males and Females? Examination of Measurement Bias Across Gender on Measures of Test Anxiety for Middle and High School, and College Students

Abstract

The present study examined measurement invariance across gender and gender differences on two measures of test anxiety developed for U.S. middle and high school, and college students. It was hypothesized that measurement invariance and gender differences would be found on the two measures of test anxiety, suggesting no separate scoring system is needed for males and females and that gender differences reported reflect true differences on the underlying trait. The results of four confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) and two multi-group CFAs indicated that the measures of test anxiety were invariant across gender. In addition, internal consistency reliability estimates were found to be similar for males and females on each measure. Furthermore, gender differences were reported on the test anxiety measures. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed.