Learning from Construct Definitions

Alternative construct definitions, often encountered as differential item functioning, are generally regarded as undesirable. But different use of items provides insight into how groups differ. For instance, how different are academic motivations between talented American and Korean high school students?

Rasch analysis of a students' motivation questionnaire (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993: revised by Choe, 1995) provides an answer. The two columns on the item map (see Figure) represent Rasch calibrations of equivalent American and Korean motivation items.

Motivation map


Academic motivations can be classified into two categories, "intrinsic" and "extrinsic", based on the rewards which students hope to get. Intrinsically-motivated students find academic activities enjoyable, interesting and challenging, while extrinsically-motivated students are more driven by the consequences or outcomes of academic activities rather than by study itself. Extrinsic motivation can be further divided into "social" and "material". Material motivations include good grades, future education or job security. Social motivations include approval of parents, teachers and friends.

Look at the American item hierarchy. At the top, American students are motivated by what they enjoy, are interested in or obtain satisfaction from. They are less motivated by the thought of future benefits or becoming good children. Talented American students are intrinsically motivated.

The Korean hierarchy is in stark contrast. Korean students value living up to parental expectations. They are also motivated by material concerns such as job prospects. They are extrinsically motivated.

In retrospect, these findings are obvious! Korean parents and students believe that education is the avenue to higher social status. Korean students are taught Confucian values: respect, social obligation and trust in human relationships. Nevertheless, it requires a simple depiction, such as this item map, to bring into an objective perspective the different natures of these two societies. Lucid exposition of contrasting empirical definitions of the same construct, "academic motivation", opens the door to intra-cultural understanding and cooperation.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. et al. (1993) Talented teenagers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Choe, In-Soo (1995) Motivation, Subjective Experience, Family and Academic Achievement in Korean High School Students (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago)


Learning from construct definitions. Choe I. … Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1995, 9:3 p.439



Rasch Publications
Rasch Measurement Transactions (free, online) Rasch Measurement research papers (free, online) Probabilistic Models for Some Intelligence and Attainment Tests, Georg Rasch Applying the Rasch Model 3rd. Ed., Bond & Fox Best Test Design, Wright & Stone
Rating Scale Analysis, Wright & Masters Introduction to Rasch Measurement, E. Smith & R. Smith Introduction to Many-Facet Rasch Measurement, Thomas Eckes Invariant Measurement: Using Rasch Models in the Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, George Engelhard, Jr. Statistical Analyses for Language Testers, Rita Green
Rasch Models: Foundations, Recent Developments, and Applications, Fischer & Molenaar Journal of Applied Measurement Rasch models for measurement, David Andrich Constructing Measures, Mark Wilson Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences, Boone, Stave, Yale
in Spanish: Análisis de Rasch para todos, Agustín Tristán Mediciones, Posicionamientos y Diagnósticos Competitivos, Juan Ramón Oreja Rodríguez

To be emailed about new material on www.rasch.org
please enter your email address here:

I want to Subscribe: & click below
I want to Unsubscribe: & click below

Please set your SPAM filter to accept emails from Rasch.org

www.rasch.org welcomes your comments:

Your email address (if you want us to reply):

 

ForumRasch Measurement Forum to discuss any Rasch-related topic

Go to Top of Page
Go to index of all Rasch Measurement Transactions
AERA members: Join the Rasch Measurement SIG and receive the printed version of RMT
Some back issues of RMT are available as bound volumes
Subscribe to Journal of Applied Measurement

Go to Institute for Objective Measurement Home Page. The Rasch Measurement SIG (AERA) thanks the Institute for Objective Measurement for inviting the publication of Rasch Measurement Transactions on the Institute's website, www.rasch.org.

Coming Rasch-related Events
May 17 - June 21, 2024, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
June 12 - 14, 2024, Wed.-Fri. 1st Scandinavian Applied Measurement Conference, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden http://www.hkr.se/samc2024
June 21 - July 19, 2024, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Further Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
Aug. 5 - Aug. 6, 2024, Fri.-Fri. 2024 Inaugural Conference of the Society for the Study of Measurement (Berkeley, CA), Call for Proposals
Aug. 9 - Sept. 6, 2024, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (E. Smith, Facets), www.statistics.com
Oct. 4 - Nov. 8, 2024, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
Jan. 17 - Feb. 21, 2025, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
May 16 - June 20, 2025, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
June 20 - July 18, 2025, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Further Topics (E. Smith, Facets), www.statistics.com
Oct. 3 - Nov. 7, 2025, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Rasch Measurement - Core Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com

 

The URL of this page is www.rasch.org/rmt/rmt93a.htm

Website: www.rasch.org/rmt/contents.htm