Gifted and nongifted race and gender effects on item functioning on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.

This study examined differential item function on the K-ABC for gifted and nongifted subjects on the basis of race and gender using the technique for partial correlation proposed by Stricker (1982) and Reynolds, Willson, and Chatman (1984). It was determined that there were no items biased against gifted Black children and that 8 items were biased against gifted White children. Three items were found to be biased against nongifted Black children, while 4 items were biased against nongifted White children. When gender was considered, 2 items were found to be biased against gifted males, and 2 items also were found to be biased against gifted females. There were 10 items that were biased against nongifted Black males and 6 items biased against nongifted females. Systematic bias against race or gender was not found. It appears that the K-ABC is a relatively nonbiased test suitable for the evaluation of both gifted and nongifted children regardless of race or gender.