Detection of Item Bias in Mathematics Multiple Choice Test Items of West African Examination Council in Enugu State using Differential Item Functioning Technique
Abstract
The study investigated the presence of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) by gender in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) 2021 Mathematics Multiple Choice Test Items in Enugu State. An Expose Factor research design was employed. A sample of 1,585 candidates was used. The candidates' population by gender showed that males have the population of 687 while the females are 898. A 50-item multiple choice Mathematics test item was used to gather data. To detect the items that functioned differentially by male and female test takers, Mantel-Haenszel statistical method was applied. The results of the analysis revealed that 7 items in favour of males and 4 items in favour of females, (22%) of the 50 test items set and administered by WAEC 2021 exhibited significant differential item functioning by gender. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the items used by WAEC in the above examinations were biased by gender.