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Method evidence record

Differential Distractor Functioning

Differential distractor functioning (DDF) extends test-fairness analysis from the correct answer to the wrong ones. It asks whether examinees of equal ability but different group membership are differentially attracted to particular distractors (incorrect options) of a multiple-choice item. By analyzing option-level rather than just right/wrong responses, DDF can detect bias that ordinary differential item functioning misses and, crucially, help explain why an item functions differently — pointing to the specific wrong option luring one group. Penfield's odds-ratio approach under the nominal response model is a standard tool.

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Differential Distractor Functioning Analysis for Multiple-Choice Items

Taxonomic method recordlatent-structureeducation

  1. Penfield, R. D. (2008). An odds ratio approach for assessing differential distractor functioning effects under the nominal response model. Journal of Educational Measurement, 45(3), 247–269. · DOI 10.1111/j.1745-3984.2008.00063.x

  2. Thissen, D., Steinberg, L., & Wainer, H. (1993). Detection of differential item functioning using the parameters of item response models. In P. W. Holland & H. Wainer (Eds.), Differential Item Functioning (pp. 67–113). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. · ISBN 9780805809725

Open full method2 recorded citations, copied from the method source record.

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