The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)

Language dissimilarity is a liability in translated tests which can result in construct non-equivalence as the construct under measure in one test cannot be generalised to the construct of another test in a different language. This study examines the validity of using bilingual test booklet to as...

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Main Authors: Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari, Ong , Saw Lan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/34730/1/Art_1%281-18%29.pdf
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author Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari
Ong , Saw Lan
author_facet Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari
Ong , Saw Lan
author_sort Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari
collection USM
description Language dissimilarity is a liability in translated tests which can result in construct non-equivalence as the construct under measure in one test cannot be generalised to the construct of another test in a different language. This study examines the validity of using bilingual test booklet to assess Form Two Malaysian students’ mathematical achievement. The equivalence of the two test booklets were inspected using differential item functioning methodology. The sample consists of 4,768 Form Two students from 34 schools in two states in Malaysia. The instruments used were bilingual mathematics test (English and Malay languages) and English-only mathematics test. Both tests contain the same 40 multiple-choice items where 20 are word-problem and another 20 are computation items that were obtained from 1999 and 2003 TIMSS released items. Random group design with spiral administration was employed. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses performed were based on the Mantel Haenszel method, Multidimensional model and IRT 1-PL model. Only one common DIF item was flagged which made up 2.5% of the test items. Therefore, the two test booklets are equivalent. Test validity was not compromised with the use of the bilingual test. This study has important implication on Mathematics test item writers who need to remove language redundancy when developing test items and constructing tests.
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spelling usm.eprints-347302017-05-30T06:12:46Z http://eprints.usm.my/34730/ The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif) Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari Ong , Saw Lan LB2300 Higher Education Language dissimilarity is a liability in translated tests which can result in construct non-equivalence as the construct under measure in one test cannot be generalised to the construct of another test in a different language. This study examines the validity of using bilingual test booklet to assess Form Two Malaysian students’ mathematical achievement. The equivalence of the two test booklets were inspected using differential item functioning methodology. The sample consists of 4,768 Form Two students from 34 schools in two states in Malaysia. The instruments used were bilingual mathematics test (English and Malay languages) and English-only mathematics test. Both tests contain the same 40 multiple-choice items where 20 are word-problem and another 20 are computation items that were obtained from 1999 and 2003 TIMSS released items. Random group design with spiral administration was employed. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses performed were based on the Mantel Haenszel method, Multidimensional model and IRT 1-PL model. Only one common DIF item was flagged which made up 2.5% of the test items. Therefore, the two test booklets are equivalent. Test validity was not compromised with the use of the bilingual test. This study has important implication on Mathematics test item writers who need to remove language redundancy when developing test items and constructing tests. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.usm.my/34730/1/Art_1%281-18%29.pdf Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari and Ong , Saw Lan (2014) The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif). The Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education (formerly known as Journal of Educators and Education), 29 (1). pp. 1-18. ISSN 2289-9057 http://apjee.usm.my/APJEE_29_2014/Art%201(1-18).pdf
spellingShingle LB2300 Higher Education
Suppiah Shanmugam, S. Kanageswari
Ong , Saw Lan
The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title_full The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title_fullStr The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title_full_unstemmed The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title_short The Validity Of Administering Bilingual Mathematics Test Among Malaysian Bilingual Students Using Differential Item Functioning (Dif)
title_sort validity of administering bilingual mathematics test among malaysian bilingual students using differential item functioning dif
topic LB2300 Higher Education
url http://eprints.usm.my/34730/1/Art_1%281-18%29.pdf
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