Testing for Construct Bias in the Differential Ability Scales, Second Edition: A Comparison Among African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian Children. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trundt, Katherine M.; Keith, Timothy Z.; Caemmerer, Jacqueline M.; Smith, Leann V.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychoeducational assessment. Volume 36:Number 7(2018)
• Page Start: 670
• Page End: 683
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: cross-cultural comparison -- culture/crosscultural -- factor analysis -- measurement -- cognitive abilities -- personality/individual differences -- other -- intelligence tests -- intelligence/cognition; Ability -- Testing -- Periodicals; Educational tests and measurements -- Periodicals; 371.713
• DOI: 10.1177/0734282917698303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-2829

Abstract

Individually administered intelligence measures are commonly used in diagnostic work, but there is a continuing need for research investigating possible test bias among these measures. One current intelligence measure, the Differential Ability Scales, Second Edition (DAS-II), is a test with growing popularity. The issue of test bias, however, has not been thoroughly investigated with the DAS-II. The current study investigated whether the DAS-II demonstrates systematic construct bias when used with children from three racial and ethnic groups—African American, Asian, and Hispanic—when compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian children. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses with data from the DAS-II standardization sample were used to assess whether the constructs and measurement of constructs were invariant across groups. Results indicate cross-group internal structure validity in the DAS-II, and thus a lack of construct bias. Minor differences were found, but these differences do not affect the calculation of composite scores on the DAS-II and thus would not result in unfair scoring for the groups involved. Results of this study support the appropriateness of the DAS-II for clinical use with these racial and ethnic groups.