Miyakoda Elementary School

The purpose of this study is to clarify the gender and grade differences in the movements that compose the straddle vault of elementary school children. Participants included 453 children (220 boys and 233 girls) from the third to the sixth grade. They performed the straddle vault; their movements were recorded using a video camera from the front and left sides. After the assessment by the observational evaluation criteria and selecting the effective items for the analysis, the item parameters were estimated using the graded response model of the item response theory. For each item, the differential item functioning (DIF) was detected using the likelihood ratio test with gender and grade as conditions.

“Are you bigger than my teacher?” fouryear- old Jeffery asked his slightly overweight principal on his way to the bus. Responding optimistically, Mrs. Hix said, “Do you mean taller?”