Work

Measurement invariance in the enjoyment of reading across grades measured by IRT and DIF analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: When measuring a phenomena across different grades it is important that the instrument measures the same way by being perceived by the same manner no matter the grade. Especially if the phenomena is a concept that should be universal and therefore independent of other circumstances. The phenomena of enjoyment of reading should be universal and measure the same across grades. From a sample of all pupils in the public-school system in one municipality in Denmark (grade 0.-9., age 6-16), the scale of enjoyment of reading is evaluated by IRT and DIF analysis of grades. The analysis shows that there is DIF in items, and the DIF cluster to be similar for younger pupils (0.-2. grade, age 6-8) and the older pupils (3.-9. grade, age 9-16), which indicates that the measurement is different for the two groups.

Source: Large-scale Assessments in Education

DOI: 10.1186/s40536-026-00280-3

Authors: Morten Rasmus Augestad-Puck, Simon Skov Fougt

Institution: Aarhus University

Language: English

Topic: Psychometric Methodologies and Testing

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7129045111