ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA

Studies across countries part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggest that learners' sense of school belonging is often influenced by their place of birth. However, large-scale assessment studies rarely explore whether differences in belonging scores between...

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Main Author: Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Preschool Teacher Training College "Mihailo Palov" 2024-12-01
Series:Istraživanja u Pedagogiji
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.rs/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/10-Elizondo-Gonzales-Research-in-Pedagogy-Vol-14-No-2-2024.pdf
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author Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez
author_facet Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez
author_sort Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez
collection DOAJ
description Studies across countries part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggest that learners' sense of school belonging is often influenced by their place of birth. However, large-scale assessment studies rarely explore whether differences in belonging scores between nonimmigrant and immigrant learners are due to test bias. This study fills that gap by examining belonging scores in Costa Rican high schools using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 data, with a focus on test fairness. Utilizing Multiple-group Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses and Item Response Theory (IRT) modeling, results show that all items are DIF-free, confirming no test bias. An Independent Samples t-test reveals no significant differences in belonging scores between immigrant and non-immigrant learners, which is a positive finding. It suggests that Costa Rican educational environments foster a shared sense of belonging, regardless of learners’ place of birth. The most discriminating items, identified through IRT modeling, relate to performative or participatory aspects of school belonging. This study highlights the importance of incorporating IRT modeling and fairness protocols in large-scale assessments. By confirming that sense of belonging is not impacted by place of birth, stakeholders can confidently make decisions that further support inclusive educational practices in Costa Rican classrooms, knowing the PISA sense of belonging index provides unbiased, reliable scores.
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institution Kabale University
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2406-2006
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Preschool Teacher Training College "Mihailo Palov"
record_format Article
series Istraživanja u Pedagogiji
spelling doaj-art-f4e46753a8274d799f3f5f53901a06d62025-01-17T01:22:21ZengPreschool Teacher Training College "Mihailo Palov"Istraživanja u Pedagogiji2217-73372406-20062024-12-01142377387doi:10.5937/IstrPed2402377EANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICAJose Fabian Elizondo-GonzalezStudies across countries part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggest that learners' sense of school belonging is often influenced by their place of birth. However, large-scale assessment studies rarely explore whether differences in belonging scores between nonimmigrant and immigrant learners are due to test bias. This study fills that gap by examining belonging scores in Costa Rican high schools using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 data, with a focus on test fairness. Utilizing Multiple-group Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses and Item Response Theory (IRT) modeling, results show that all items are DIF-free, confirming no test bias. An Independent Samples t-test reveals no significant differences in belonging scores between immigrant and non-immigrant learners, which is a positive finding. It suggests that Costa Rican educational environments foster a shared sense of belonging, regardless of learners’ place of birth. The most discriminating items, identified through IRT modeling, relate to performative or participatory aspects of school belonging. This study highlights the importance of incorporating IRT modeling and fairness protocols in large-scale assessments. By confirming that sense of belonging is not impacted by place of birth, stakeholders can confidently make decisions that further support inclusive educational practices in Costa Rican classrooms, knowing the PISA sense of belonging index provides unbiased, reliable scores.https://research.rs/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/10-Elizondo-Gonzales-Research-in-Pedagogy-Vol-14-No-2-2024.pdfbelongingcosta ricadifferential item functioningimmigrant learnerstest bias
spellingShingle Jose Fabian Elizondo-Gonzalez
ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
Istraživanja u Pedagogiji
belonging
costa rica
differential item functioning
immigrant learners
test bias
title ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
title_full ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
title_fullStr ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
title_full_unstemmed ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
title_short ANALYZING IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT BELONGING EXPERIENCES THROUGH IRT IN LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM COSTA RICA
title_sort analyzing immigrant and non immigrant belonging experiences through irt in large scale assessments insights from costa rica
topic belonging
costa rica
differential item functioning
immigrant learners
test bias
url https://research.rs/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/10-Elizondo-Gonzales-Research-in-Pedagogy-Vol-14-No-2-2024.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT josefabianelizondogonzalez analyzingimmigrantandnonimmigrantbelongingexperiencesthroughirtinlargescaleassessmentsinsightsfromcostarica