Predicting black and white differential item functioning in verbal analogy performance

Differential item functioning (DIF) is one technique for comparing ethnic populations that test makers employ to help ensure the fairness of their tests. The purpose of this ethnic comparison study is to investigate factors that may have a significant influence on DIF values associated with 217 SAT and 234 GRE analogy items obtained by comparing large samples of Black and White examinees matched for total verbal score. In one study, five significant regression predictors of ethnic differences were found to account for approximately 30% of the DIF variance. A second study replicated these findings. These significant ethnic comparisons are interpreted as consistent with a cultural/contextualist framework although competing explanations involving social-economic status and biological contributions could not be ruled out. Practical implications are discussed.