Differential item functioning by education and sex in subtests of the repeatable battery assessment of neuropsychological status

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to evaluate functions of the items changing with the gender and educational level in the List Learning and the Picture Naming subtests in the Repeatable Battery Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. The study was implemented on 315 volunteers consisting of 157 women and 158 males in the 20-79 age group with three different educational levels (107 graduates of primary school, 102 graduates of high school, and 106 graduates of university). Logistic Regression method was used to determine the items that included differential item functioning (DIF). As a result of the analyses, DIF was encountered in the Picture Naming that could cause bias in several items in levels B and C based on the gender and education variables. Although DIF was not found in the List Learning based on the gender variable, DIF was found in some items based on the education variable.