Assessing the Functionality of National Examinations Council Physics Test Items Among Northern and Southern Candidates in Nigeria
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Abstract
The performance disparity among Senior Secondary School students in Physics examinations, particularly in Nigeria, has raised concerns among stakeholders. Despite previous research attempts to proffer a solution to the issue, the persistent underperformance of Northern candidates compared to their Southern counterparts, remains a challenge. This study investigated the variation in the psychometric quality of the National Examination Council (NECO) of the 2017 Physics multi-choice test in Northern and Southern Nigeria. The study adopted a Non-experimental design of descriptive research type. The population comprised 1,051,472 candidates who took the NECO Physics examination in 2017. The instrument consisted of 60 multiple-choice questions from Physics Papers III. The study utilised factor analysis to identify underlying traits in the test and conducted model data fit analysis using multidimensional item response models (MIRT and difR) packages in R software version 4.2 for the analysis. The results revealed that 59 items exhibited DIF, with only item 1 showing no DIF between Northern and Southern candidates. Non-uniform differential item functioning was observed in 40 items, while 19 items displayed uniform DIF favoring the Northern examinees. The findings also indicated Physics Paper III items have three dimensions in the North and two in the South. It was concluded that the test items have more than one dimension and grossly exhibit DIF across the candidate groups. The study recommended that public examining bodies should assess test items during the development stage, considering DIF across or between candidate groups.
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