Item Local Independence of the 2018-2019 Basic Education Certificate, Basic Science Test

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to assess the item local independence in Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Calabar education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria for the year 2018 to 2019. A sample of 800 candidates’ scores were collected from the pool of examination scripts for candidates who sat for the examination in Calabar education zone of Cross River State, Nigeria for the two years. The study adopted the expo facto research design. In expo facto research was appropriate for this study in that it tends to give a descriptive explanation made up after an event and then apply this in verification considered the outcome (dependent). Data analysis using Tetrachoric Correlation statistic of version 2.3 implemented in DIMTEST showed that Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Basic Science test items were significantly locally independent. Each item correlated perfectly with itself (1) but correlated at different extents with others. For instance, in Table 1, the correlation between item 1(1.0) item and 3(.330) violated the assumption of item local independent for correlating .2 and above, while item 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10…. Meet with the assumption of item local independent. And for table 2, item 1 (1.0), item 2(.261), item5 (.221) and item 8(.240) violated the assumption of item Local independent for correlating .2 and above, while item 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10… Meet with the assumption of item local independent for correlating below .2 downward. It is thus concluded that BECE Basic Science 2018 to 2019 test items met the assumptions of Item local independence and thus are recommended for further use and that test practitioner and examination bodies in Nigeria should endeavour to adhere to the requirements of item local independence, while preparing test items using the proper procedures for item construction while preparing their questions.