Gregory Camilli - Böcker

This book is highly recommended for all involved in test development or who have any interest in the use of tests in education or in other fields. The necessary mathematics are presented clearly but never obscure the important messages in the book. It will certainly be referred to constantly in my future work in this area. --Educational Research "The fundamental goal of the Measurement Methods for the Social Sciences series is to make complex measurement concepts, topics, and methods available to readers with limited mathematical background but a strong desire to understand, as well as use, methods that are on the forefront of social science assessment. With this book on item bias detection methods, Gregory Camilli and Lorrie Shepard have achieved this goal admirably." --from the Foreword by Richard M. Jaeger What can item bias methods do--and not do--when applied to real test data? Aimed at helping researchers understand how item bias methods work, this book provides practical advice and specific details on the most useful methods for particular testing situations. Beginning with a review of early bias methods and the fairness issues associated with the topic of test bias, the authors explain the logic of each method in terms of how differential item functioning (DIF) is defined by the method--and how well the method can be expected to work in various situations. In addition, chapters include a summary of findings regarding the behavior of the various indexes in empirical studies, especially their reliability, correlation with known bias criteria, and correlations with other bias methods. The book concludes with a set of principles for deciding when DIF should be interpreted as evidence of bias.

Published for the American Educational Research Association by Routledge.The Handbook of Complementary Methods in Education Research is a successor volume to AERA's earlier and highly acclaimed editions of Complementary Methods for Research in Education. More than any book to date (including its predecessors), this new volume brings together the wide range of research methods used to study education and makes the logic of inquiry for each method clear and accessible. Each method is described in detail, including its history, its research design, the questions that it addresses, ways of using the method, and ways of analyzing and reporting outcomes. Key features of this indispensable book include the following: Foundations Section-Part I is unique among research books. Its three chapters examine common philosophical, epistemological, and ethical issues facing researchers from all traditions, and frames ways of understanding the similarities and differences among traditions. Together they provide a tripartite lens through which to view and compare all research methods. Comprehensive Coverage-Part II (the heart of the book) presents 35 chapters on research design and analysis. Each chapter includes a brief historical overview of the research tradition, examines the questions that it addresses, and presents an example of how the approach can be used. Programs of Research-Part III examines how research programs connected to eight specific lines of inquiry have evolved over time. These chapters examine phenomena such as classroom interaction; language research; issues of race, culture, and difference; policy analysis; program evaluation; student learning; and teacher education. Complementary Methods-As the title suggests, a central mission of this book is to explore the compatibility of different research methods. Which methods can be productively brought together and for what purposes? How and on what scale can they be made compatible and what phenomena are they best suited to explore? Flexibility-The chapters in Parts II and III are largely independent. Therefore, selected portions of the book can be used in courses devoted to specific research methods and perspectives or to particular areas of education. Likewise, established researchers interested in acquiring new techniques or greater expertise in a given methodology will find this an indispensable reference volume. This handbook is appropriate for any of the following audiences: faculty teaching and graduate students studying education research, education researchers and other scholars seeking an accessible overview of state-of-the-art knowledge about specific methods, policy analysts and other professionals needing to better understand research methods, and academic and research libraries serving these audiences.