Differential Item Functioning in Students Rating of Teaching Effectiveness Surveys in Higher Education According to Academic Disciplines: Data from a Saudi University

This study explored academic discipline as a source of differential item functioning(dif) in students’ rating of teaching quality and effectiveness at higher educationinstitutions. data utilized in this study was collected by imam abudalruman binfaisal university - ksa. the total number of surveys analyzed for the purpose of thisstudy is 36459 from three colleges: education, health, and engineering. using extendedrasch model (rating scale model), the results show that the instrument containsfour dif items. the content of these four items confirm the possibility of consideringdiscipline as a source of dif items in students evaluation of teaching in higher education.moreover, the results of the current study show that removing dif items from theinstrument increases construct validity.