INVESTIGATING BIAS IN STANDARDIZED TESTING: A CASE STUDY OF 2024 WAEC SSCE ECONOMICS OBJECTIVE TEST ITEMS
Keywords:
Item Bias, Objective Test Item, Area index Analysis, Standardized Examination Body & EconomicsAbstract
The study aimed at investigating bias in standardized testing in the 2024 WAEC SSCE Economics objective test items. To achieve the objectives of this study, two research questions were raised and one hypothesis was tested. The Survey Research Design was adopted. Simple Random Sampling Procedure was used to select the sample for the study. The population of the study comprised 19,661 students in SS3 in Benin metropolis who wrote the 2025 WAEC SSCE Economics. The sample size for the study was one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six (1,966) SS3 students. The research instrument used for the study was 2024 WAEC SSCE Economics objective examination question paper. The Raju Area Index Analysis was used to detect items that are bias while the hypothesis was tested using Chi-square Statistical Analysis. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that out of the fifty (50) items in WAEC SSCE 2024 Economics examination question paper, thirteen items exhibited bias by sex. From the results of the hypothesis of the 2024 WAEC SSCE Economics, the null hypothesis of no significant difference in items exhibiting bias in 2024 WAEC SSCE Economics test items by sex was accepted. Based on the findings, it was recommended that test experts and developers should consider the use of Area Index Measure in investigating bias. Items that discriminate or unfair to examinees should be eliminated from the test before use. An item should be fair to both group of testees before use.References
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