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NAEP Technical DocumentationNumber of Items by Severity of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) in the U.S. History National Assessment

For dichotomously scored items, NAEP categorizes each item into one of three categories: "A" (items exhibiting no DIF), "B" (items exhibiting a weak indication of DIF), or "C" (items exhibiting a strong indication of DIF). A plus sign (+) indicates that items are differentially easier for the focal group (female, Black, or Hispanic students) than for the reference group (male or White students) after making an adjustment for the overall level of proficiency in the two groups. A minus sign (-) indicates that items are differentially more difficult for the focal group than for the reference group. For polytomously scored items, NAEP categorizes items into "AA," "BB," or "CC" categories and the plus or minus sign has the same interpretation as for dichotomously scored items. After reviewing "C" and "CC" items, subject area specialists decided that no items were biased, so none were deleted from the scale for this reason.

Number of dichotomously scored items, U.S. history DBA national assessment, by differential item functioning (DIF) group, grade, and DIF category: 2018
GradeDIF categoryFemale/MaleBlack/WhiteHispanic/White
8C-200
B-500
A1220130
B+506
C+301
NOTE: DBA = Digitally based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The table includes all items in the assessment (the prescaling decisions).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Number of dichotomously scored items, U.S. history PBA national assessment, by differential item functioning (DIF) group, grade, and DIF category: 2018
GradeDIF categoryFemale/MaleBlack/WhiteHispanic/White
8C-000
B-703
A1060106
B+508
C+001
NOTE: PBA = Paper-based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The table includes all items in the assessment (the prescaling decisions).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Number of polytomously scored items, U.S. history DBA national assessment, by differential item functioning (DIF) group, grade, and DIF category: 2018
GradeDIF categoryFemale/MaleBlack/WhiteHispanic/White
8CC-301
BB-302
AA43052
BB+602
CC+301
NOTE: DBA = Digitally based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The table includes all items in the assessment (the prescaling decisions).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Number of polytomously scored items, U.S. history PBA national assessment, by differential item functioning (DIF) group, grade, and DIF category: 2018
GradeDIF categoryFemale/MaleBlack/WhiteHispanic/White
8CC-101
BB-202
AA42043
BB+101
CC+100
NOTE: PBA = Paper-based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The table includes all items in the assessment (the prescaling decisions).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Items identified as "C" items in at least one comparison, U.S. history DBA national assessment, by grade, block, and subscale: 2018
GradeBlockItemSubscaleComparisonGroup favored
8H1H036702CultureFemale/MaleFemale
H2H059601TechnologyFemale/MaleMale
H4H071701TechnologyHispanic/WhiteHispanic
H5H084401CultureFemale/MaleFemale
H6H042601DemocracyFemale/MaleFemale
H9H099501CultureFemale/MaleMale
NOTE: DBA = Digitally based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The block naming conventions used in this table are described in the document 2018 Block Naming Conventions in Data Products and TDW PDF File .
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Items identified as "C" items in at least one comparison, U.S. history PBA national assessment, by grade, block, and subscale: 2018
GradeBlockItemSubscaleComparisonGroup favored
8H11H071701TechnologyHispanic/WhiteHispanic
NOTE: PBA = Paper-based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The block naming conventions used in this table are described in the document 2018 Block Naming Conventions in Data Products and TDW PDF File .
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Items identified as "CC" items in at least one comparison, U.S. history DBA national assessment, by grade, block, and subscale: 2018
GradeBlockItemSubscaleComparisonGroup favored
8H1H036402TechnologyFemale/MaleFemale
H2H059701TechnologyHispanic/WhiteWhite
H2H059201DemocracyFemale/MaleFemale
H5H073001CultureFemale/MaleMale
H6H0429CLWorld roleFemale/MaleMale
H7H105801CultureFemale/MaleMale
H8H1056MSCultureHispanic/WhiteHispanic
H8H101801CultureFemale/MaleFemale
NOTE: DBA = Digitally based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The block naming conventions used in this table are described in the document 2018 Block Naming Conventions in Data Products and TDW PDF File .
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.

Items identified as "CC" items in at least one comparison, U.S. history PBA national assessment, by grade, block, and subscale: 2018
GradeBlockItemSubscaleComparisonGroup favored
8H4H059001DemocracyFemale/MaleMale
H4H059701TechnologyHispanic/WhiteWhite
H7H084301DemocracyFemale/MaleFemale
NOTE: PBA = Paper-based assessment. In 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. The block naming conventions used in this table are described in the document 2018 Block Naming Conventions in Data Products and TDW PDF File .
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2018 U.S. History Assessment.


Last updated 31 January 2023 (ML)