Faculty of Education - Theses

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Start date: 1960 × Subject: Education × Type: Masters Research thesis × Author: Ashraf, Fazli Shamim ×

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    Analysis of pupil achievement in the SACMEQ II mathematics assessment in Mauritius using the Rasch model
    Ashraf, Fazli Shamim ( 2007)
    Educational reforms are brought about through policy decisions which should be based on sound information. To ensure that the policy decisions are realistic, the data collected by the test administered need to be valid and reliable. The SACMEQ II study was designed to enable policies to be made to improve achievement of pupils and at the same time to improve the conditions of learning in schools. In this study, an analysis of the data collected for the SACMEQ II pupil mathematics test in Mauritius has been carried out using the Rasch model. The reliability and validity of the test have been examined to assess the extent to which it measured the construct it was designed to test and to assess the quality of the items in the instrument. As the data collected have been used as indicators of the pupils' performances, a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis has been carried out to investigate whether the test was fair for the gender subgroups. The results show that the test is reliable and that there is evidence of a dominant underlying dimension in the construct being measured. A few of the items need to be omitted or reconsidered as they are showing poor fit and cannot discriminate adequately between low and high achievers. The results obtained from the analysis of the pupils' responses on these items could be useful to test developers as it might help in test item modification for future use. The results also show that there is no significant difference in the performance between gender and the DIF analysis indicate that both gender have responded to the items in the same way. It is suggested that a comparative study of the DIF results be carried out with other SACMEQ countries to find out if they follow a similar pattern. Overall, the study shows that the SACMEQ II pupil mathematics test has been successful in measuring the mathematics ability of grade six pupils in primary schools in Mauritius.