@article{ref1,
title="Identifying unbiased items for screening preschoolers for disruptive behavior problems",
journal="Journal of pediatric psychology",
year="2016",
author="Studts, Christina R. and Polaha, Jodi and van Zyl, Michiel A.",
volume="42",
number="4",
pages="476-486",
abstract="OBJECTIVE : Efficient identification and referral to behavioral services are crucial in addressing early-onset disruptive behavior problems. Existing screening instruments for preschoolers are not ideal for pediatric primary care settings serving diverse populations. Eighteen candidate items for a new brief screening instrument were examined to identify those exhibiting measurement bias (i.e., differential item functioning, DIF) by child characteristics. <br><br>METHOD : Parents/guardians of preschool-aged children (N = 900) from four primary care settings completed two full-length behavioral rating scales. Items measuring disruptive behavior problems were tested for DIF by child race, sex, and socioeconomic status using two approaches: item response theory-based likelihood ratio tests and ordinal logistic regression. <br><br>RESULTS : Of 18 items, eight were identified with statistically significant DIF by at least one method. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS : The bias observed in 8 of 18 items made them undesirable for screening diverse populations of children. These items were excluded from the new brief screening tool.<br><br>© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0146-8693",
doi="10.1093/jpepsy/jsw090",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsw090"
}