Construct Bias in Psychological Tests

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes construct bias?

When a test measures different constructs for different groups

When a test measures different constructs similarly for different groups

When a test measures the same construct similarly for different groups

When a test measures the same construct differently for different groups (correct)

What does construct bias concern in relation to psychological tests?

The relationship between observed scores and test scores

The relationship between true scores and test scores

The relationship between true scores and observed scores

The relationship between observed scores and true scores (correct)

How can construct bias manifest in test scores?

Two groups having the same average true score and the same average observed score

Two groups having different average true scores and different average observed scores

Two groups having different average true scores and the same average observed score

Two groups having the same average true score and different average observed scores (correct)

Which of the following best describes predictive bias?

When a tests use has different implications for two groups Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of predictive bias?

An IQ test used to predict job performance Signup and view all the answers

What does predictive bias concern in relation to test scores?

The implications of a test's use for different groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between internal and external methods to identify bias?

Internal methods focus on construct bias, while external methods focus on predictive bias Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between test score bias and true group differences?

Test score bias may or may not indicate true group differences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes construct bias in relation to psychological tests?

Construct bias occurs when people belonging to different groups respond in different ways to an item on a test. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an item's discrimination index?

The degree to which an item is related to the total test score Signup and view all the answers

What does a high discrimination index suggest about an item?

The item is highly similar conceptually to most other test items Signup and view all the answers

How can item discrimination indexes be used to test for construct bias?

By comparing item discrimination indexes separately for two groups Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a test item with a high discrimination index (d)?

It suggests that the item is a good reflection of the construct being assessed Signup and view all the answers

What does a test item with a low discrimination index (d) indicate?

It is not a good reflection of the construct being assessed Signup and view all the answers

What does a high discrimination index (d) suggest about an item's ability to discriminate amongst people with varying levels of aptitude?

It suggests that the item is unbiased and fair Signup and view all the answers

Which method can be used to evaluate the internal structure of a test and detect construct bias?

Factor analysis Signup and view all the answers

What is construct bias detected when?

The dimensional structure of a test is not the same between groups Signup and view all the answers

What does factor analysis evaluate?

The internal structure of a test Signup and view all the answers

Which statistical approach is used to assess construct bias in the context of Item Response Theory?

Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis Signup and view all the answers

What does Item Response Theory assume about the relationship between trait level and probability of answering a question correctly?

The relationship is linear Signup and view all the answers

What does DIF assume about estimating people's trait levels from test data?

Trait levels can be estimated for different groups Signup and view all the answers

What does construct bias refer to in the context of DIF analysis?

The bias in the relationship between trait levels and item responses Signup and view all the answers

What evidence does DIF analysis provide if the trait levels and item responses do not match up in the same way for different groups?

Evidence for construct bias Signup and view all the answers

What level of correlation between item means would suggest evidence of construct bias?

Less than 0.90 Signup and view all the answers

How can construct bias be detected using the means of each item?

By calculating the Spearman Rank Correlation between the item means Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Construct Bias

Construct bias refers to the difference in how psychological tests measure concepts across diverse groups.
It concerns the validity of test constructs and whether they genuinely reflect the traits they are intended to measure.
Manifestations of construct bias in test scores may occur when one group performs better or worse than another, not due to actual differences in the trait being measured, but due to differences in how the test constructs are understood.

Predictive Bias

Predictive bias pertains to discrepancies in the forecasting of outcomes based on test scores for different groups.
An example of predictive bias is the SAT scores being a better predictor of college success for one demographic group than another.
This bias worries about the accuracy of predictions made from test scores across various demographic groups.

Methods to Identify Bias

Internal methods assess bias through the structure of test items and their relationships to constructs.
External methods look at real-world outcomes and how well test scores predict those outcomes across different groups.

Test Score Bias vs. True Group Differences

Test score bias can exist independently of true group differences, meaning that observed score differences may not accurately reflect actual disparities in abilities or traits.

Discrimination Index

An item's discrimination index indicates how well it differentiates between those who possess a certain level of ability and those who do not.
A high discrimination index suggests that the item effectively distinguishes between test-takers of varying proficiency levels.

Item Discrimination and Construct Bias

Item discrimination indexes can reveal potential construct bias if certain groups score differently on items with high discrimination.
A test item with a high discrimination index (d) indicates a strong ability to differentiate among test-takers' performances.
Conversely, a low discrimination index (d) may suggest difficulty in distinguishing individuals based on their aptitude.

Evaluation and Detection of Construct Bias

Factor analysis evaluates the underlying structure of tests to detect construct bias by examining if the constructs align across demographic groups.
Construct bias issues are detected when the expected relationships between traits and item responses do not hold across various groups.

Item Response Theory (IRT) and DIF Analysis

In the context of IRT, construct bias can be assessed by examining item response patterns across groups.
IRT assumes that the likelihood of answering a question correctly is related to an individual’s latent trait level.
Differential Item Functioning (DIF) in estimating trait levels indicates that test items may measure different constructs for different groups if responses vary significantly.

Evidence of Construct Bias

DIF analysis reveals construct bias when trait levels and item responses do not align consistently across groups.
A correlation level in item means that is significantly low might suggest evidence of construct bias.

Detecting Construct Bias Through Means

Construct bias can be identified using the means of item responses across groups; discrepancies indicate potential bias in the constructs being measured.

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Description

Test your knowledge on construct bias and its impact on psychological tests. Learn about the relationship between observed scores and true scores, and how bias can affect different groups.