Differential Item Functioning of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance-3 for White and African American Students

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Differential Item Functioning of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance-3 for White and African American Students
Language: English
Authors: Lambert, Matthew C. (ORCID 0000-0002-7387-3780), Martin, Jodie, Epstein, Michael H., Cullinan, Douglas, Katsiyannis, Antonis
Source: Psychology in the Schools. Mar 2021 58(3):553-568.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Disability Identification, Rating Scales, Test Items, Item Response Theory, Psychometrics, Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Disorders, Special Education, Scores, Test Bias, Racial Differences, African American Students, White Students, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students
DOI: 10.1002/pits.22463
ISSN: 0033-3085
Abstract: The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance -- Third Edition: Rating Scale" (SAED-3 RS), which is designed for use in identifying students with emotional disturbance for special education services. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (a) the measurement invariance of SAED-3 RS scores between White and African American students and (b) the impact of differential item functioning (DIF) on test scores from the SAED-3 RS. The sample consisted of 855 K-12 students from throughout the United States. The findings suggested that SAED-3 RS items exhibited small to negligible levels of DIF and that DIF did not significantly impact scores. The results supported the SAED-3 RS, a teacher-completed rating scale, as relatively consistent in measuring the emotional and behavioral status of school-age students from different racial backgrounds. Researchers and practitioners can have confidence that scores from the SAED-3 RS are not substantially affected by DIF when assessing the emotional and behavioral functioning of African American and White school-age students. Research limitations, future research, and implications for school professionals are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: EJ1284319
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance -- Third Edition: Rating Scale" (SAED-3 RS), which is designed for use in identifying students with emotional disturbance for special education services. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (a) the measurement invariance of SAED-3 RS scores between White and African American students and (b) the impact of differential item functioning (DIF) on test scores from the SAED-3 RS. The sample consisted of 855 K-12 students from throughout the United States. The findings suggested that SAED-3 RS items exhibited small to negligible levels of DIF and that DIF did not significantly impact scores. The results supported the SAED-3 RS, a teacher-completed rating scale, as relatively consistent in measuring the emotional and behavioral status of school-age students from different racial backgrounds. Researchers and practitioners can have confidence that scores from the SAED-3 RS are not substantially affected by DIF when assessing the emotional and behavioral functioning of African American and White school-age students. Research limitations, future research, and implications for school professionals are discussed.
ISSN:0033-3085
DOI:10.1002/pits.22463