Zahra Jahanbakhsh; Noorali Farrokhi; Jalil Younesi
Abstract
In order to increase the precision of measurement, survey studies apply scales for the evaluation of latent features. This study aimed to examine differential item functioning (DIF) of Academic Alienation scale items in students based on the Item Response theory (IRT) framework. DIF analysis is used ...
Read More
In order to increase the precision of measurement, survey studies apply scales for the evaluation of latent features. This study aimed to examine differential item functioning (DIF) of Academic Alienation scale items in students based on the Item Response theory (IRT) framework. DIF analysis is used to test the hypothesis if the item parameters for the different groups of identical ability are invariant. DIF analyses of gender and education duration were performed using a sample of 1100 Psychology and educational sciences students in the city of Tehran. The Academic Alienation items (Burbach, 1972) studied were 4-point Likert-type scales. The questionnaire had three subscales: isolation, meaningless, and powerlessness. Analyses were conducted using the graded item response model with likelihood ratio (IRT-LR) tests of DIF. DIF analyses were conducted with 4 anchor items and after Bonferroni adjustment only 3 items based on gender and 2 items according to education duration were detected with meaningful DIF. The explanation of DIF detection can be discussed based on the cultural context of universities. Sexual inequality, teachers’ attitudes, university management policies, and finally educational injustice may be the reasons for the sense of academic alienation in students.
Jalil Younesi
Abstract
To keep up with increasing organizational complexities, the best survey and survey practices have evolved. This is evidenced by the continuous listening strategy, which entails conducting surveys and developing plans more frequently than in a single static event, such as biennial, annual, or short period ...
Read More
To keep up with increasing organizational complexities, the best survey and survey practices have evolved. This is evidenced by the continuous listening strategy, which entails conducting surveys and developing plans more frequently than in a single static event, such as biennial, annual, or short period surveys to provide consistent feedback, data, and insights. The flow of the continuous listening in organizations has steered the focus of psychometric specialists towards the continuous survey or pulse survey model. The objective of this research was to study the current and future status of employee surveys in organizations in Iran, including public and private entities, from the perspective of their Human Resources specialists. For this purpose, a survey was conducted for two months between July and September of 2022. The study targeted organizations in Iran that conducted official activities during 2022. The purposeful stratified sampling method was applied to collect data from organizations and companies of varying sizes & industry sectors. The findings demonstrate that advancements in all facets of the Pulse Survey Cycle, from design to reporting and analysis to providing more timely and relevant data, have motivated organizations to move away from traditional surveying strategies and align with the advancements of newer technologies through Pulse Surveys. Despite the slow evolution of surveys among Iranian organizations and companies, it is evident that they are making gradual advancements, which align with the progress of scientific resources and popular media coverage.
