ANALYSIS OF GENDER-RELATED DIFFERENTIAL ITEM FUNCTIONING OF 2021 NECO BECE MATHEMATICS MULTIPLE-CHOICE ITEMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the Gender-related Differential Item Functioning of 2021 NECO BECE Mathematics Multiple-Choice Items in Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted. The target population comprised five thousand one hundred and seventy-eight (5,178) junior secondary school three (JSS 3) students in Federal Unity Colleges in North Central, Nigeria. A sample of one thousand two hundred and seventy-five (1,275) was drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling. The 2021 NECO (BECE) Mathematics multiple-choice test served as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was not validated based on it’s a standardized test developed by National Examinations Council (NECO). The instrument was administered to students in a school which is not part of the sample. The 2021 NECO (BECE) Mathematics multiple-choice test was the primary instrument. Content validity was affirmed by mathematics education experts, and reliability for the study sample was established with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78. Data obtained for the study were analyzed using Binary Logistic Regression, chosen for its capacity to detect both uniform and non-uniform DIFand provide interpretable odds ratios. Findings revealed that three (3) items functioned differentially in favour of male candidates and one (1) item favour female candidates, which show that, there is significant difference in the items which functioned differentially in the 2021 Mathematics NECO (BECE) multiple choice items in North-central, Nigeria based on gender. Based on the finding of the study conclusions were made and appropriate recommendations were made.