Gender Differential Item Functioning on Entrance Examination: A Case of Malamulo College of Health Sciences

Victor Peter Nkungula
Basic Sciences Department, Malawi Adventist University,
Malamulo College of Health Sciences, Makwasa, Malawi
Email: nkungulav@mchs.adventist.org

Abstract: Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis is a key element in evaluating fairness and validity of tests. Gender is cited as a source of construct irrelevant variance. It plays a significant role in determining the volume of students who pass the tertiary level entrance examinations. By so doing, it causes bias and consequently challenges the inference made based on the instrument used for selection of the prospective students. This study aimed at investigating presence of DIF in terms of gender (an issue to do with examination validation) on an entrance examination for Malamulo College of Health Sciences, as triggered by observed low scores of female examinees. The participants (n = 615) were sampled randomly from examinees who were to sit for the 2017-2018 Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations. X-Calibre 4.2 software was used to produce item parameters (a, b and c) which were used in Raju formula. Gender DIF was detected in 77% of the items, biased towards male examinees. On the basis of the findings, it is concluded that the entrance examinations’ test scores were not free of construct-irrelevant variance and the overall fairness of the test was likely compromised at it showed that it was heavily biased towards male examinees. Analysis of DIF items inform use and interpretation of test. This is dependent on item writing, review and the continuous analysis of the items to improve the validity of the instrument(s). By so doing, the examinees are protected and the information that is needed from the examinations is attained.