Multiple choice edited
1. MULTIPLE CHOICETYPE OF TEST
2. WHAT IS A MULTIPLE TYPE OF TEST?A form of assessment Respondents are asked to select the best possible answer (or answers) out of the choices form a list frequently used in educational testing, in market, and in elections. Multiple choice testing is particularly popular in the United States.
3. The items of a multiple choice test are often colloquially referred to as "questions," but this is an inappropriate name because many items are not phrased as a question For example, they can be presented as incomplete statements or mathematical equations. Thus, the more general term "item," is the most appropriate label. Items are stored in an item bank.In the equation 2x + 3 = 4, solve for x.a. 4b.10c.0.5d. 1.5
4. BRIEF HISTORY E.L. Thorndike developed an early multiple choice test Frederick J. Kelly was the first to use such items as part of a large scale assessment While Director of the Training School at Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University) in 1915, he developed and administered the Kansas Silent Reading Test The first all multiple choice, large scale assessment was the Army Alpha, used to assess the intelligence of World War I military recruits
5. STRUCTURE Multiple choice items consist of a stem and a set of options stem - the beginning part of the item that presents the item: a problem to be solved a question asked of the respondent or an incomplete statement to be completed as well as any other relevant information
6. STRUCTUREThe options - the possible answers that the examiner can choose from.Key – correct answersDistactors – incorrect answersAlternatives – other choices
7. EXAMPLE1. If a=1, b=2. What is a+b?a.12b. 3c. 4d. 102. In the equation 2x + 3 = 4, solve for x.a. 4b.10c.0.5d1.5
8. Ideally, the MCQ should be asked as a "stem", with plausible options, for example:The IT capital of India isa. Bangaloreb. Mumbaic. Mysored. Mexico A well written multiple-choice question avoids -- wrong or silly distractors -- and All of the above or none of the above
9. ADVANTAGES Ifitem writers are well trained and items are quality assured, it can be a very effective assessment technique *If students are instructed on the way in which the item format works and myths surrounding the tests are corrected, they will perform better on the test *On many assessments, reliability has been shown to improve with larger numbers of items on a test, and with good sampling and care over case specificity, overall test reliability can be further increased.
10. ADVANTAGES Multiple choice tests often require less time to administer for a given amount of material than would tests requiring written responses * This results in a more comprehensive evaluation of the candidates extent of knowledge. Multiple choice questions lend themselves to the development of objective assessment items, however, without author training, questions can be subjective in nature.
11. Overall,multiple choice tests are the strongest predictors of overall student performance compared with other forms of evaluations, such as in- class participation, case exams, written assignments and simulation games.
12. DISADVANTAGES The most serious disadvantage is the limited types of knowledge that can be assessed by multiple choice tests. * Multiple choice tests are best adapted for testing well-defined or lower-order skills. * multiple choice tests are often chosen, not because of the type of knowledge being assessed, but because they are more affordable for testing a large number of students.
13. DISADVANTAGES Another disadvantage of multiple choice tests is possible ambiguity in the examinees interpretation of the item. *The term "multiple guess" has been used to describe this scenario because test- takers may attempt to guess rather than determine the correct answer.
14. MULTIPLE TYPES OF TEST : Single Correct Answer *In items of the single-correct-answer variety, all but one of the alternatives are incorrect; the remaining alternative is the correct answer. The student is directed to identify the correct answer. Best Answer *In items of the best-answer variety, the alternatives differ in their degree of correctness. Some may be completely incorrect and some correct, but one is clearly more correct than the others. This best alternative serves as the answer, while the other alternatives function as distractors. The student is directed to identify the best answer.
15. Negative *In items of the negative variety, the student is directed to identify either the alternative that is an incorrect answer, or the alternative that is the worst answer. Any of the other multiple-choice varieties can be converted into this negative format. Example Which of the following is not true of GeorgWashington? a. He served only two terms as president. b. He was an experienced military officer before the Revolutionary War. c. He was born in 1732. *d. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
16. Multiple Response *In items of multiple response variety, two or more of the alternatives are keyed as correct answers; the remaining alternatives serve as distractors. The student is directed to identify each correct answer. Example Which of the following is a characteristic of a virus? *a. It can cause disease. b. It can reproduce by itself. c. It is composed of large living cells. *d. It lives in plant and animal cells.
17. Multiple True-False Example A virus: *T F Can cause disease. T *F Can reproduce by itself. T *F Is composed of large living cells. *T F Lives in plant and animal cells.
18. Combined Response *In items of the combined-response variety, one or more of the alternatives are correct answers; the remaining alternatives serve as distractors. The student is directed to identify the correct answer or answers by selecting one of a set of letters, each of which represent a combination of alternatives.
19. Example The fluid imbalance known as edema is commonly associated with: 1. Allergic reactions. 2. Congestive heart failure. 3. Extensive burns. 4. Protein deficiency. The correct answer is: a. 1, 2, and 3. b. 1 and 3. c. 2 and 4. d. 4 only. *e. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
20. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS1. Construct each item to asses a single written objective * items that are not written with a specific objective in mind often end up measuring lower level objective, or c covering trivial material that is little of educational worth.
21. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS2. Base each item on a specific problem stated clearly in the stem. * The stem is the foundation of the item. After reading the stem, the student should know exactly what the problem is and what he or she is expected to do to solve it. example
22. Poor example California: a. Contains the tallest mountains in the USA. b. has an Eagle on its state flag c. Is he second largest state in terms of area d. Was the location of the “Gold Rush” of 1849. Better Example What is the main reason many people moved to California in 1849? a. California land was fertile b. Gold was discovered in Central California c. The east was preparing for a civil war d. They wanted to establish religious settlements.
23. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS3. Include as much of the item as possible in the stem but do not include irrelevant material *rather than repeating redundant words or items in each of the alternatives, place such material in the stem to decrease the reading burden and more clearly define the problem in the stem. Example
24. Poor example If the pressure of a certain amount of gas is held constant what will happen if it’s volume is increased? a. the temperature of the gas will decrease b. the temperature of the gas will increase c. the temperature of the gas will remain the same Better example If you increase the volume of a certain amount of gas while holding it’s pressure constant, its temperature will: a. decrease b. increase c. remain the same
25. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS4. State the stem in positive form ( in general ) * positive items are more appropriate to use for measuring the most attainment educational objectives. * negatively-worded items are those in which the student is instructed to identify the exception, the incorrect answer or the least correct answer.
26. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS5. Word the alternatives clearly and concisely. *clear words reduces student confusion, and concise wording reduces the reading burden placed on the student.
27. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS6. Keep the alternatives mutually exclusive * alternatives that overlap create undesirable situations Example
28. Poor example How long does an annual plant generally live? a. It dies after the first year* b. It lives for many years c. It lives for more than 1 year d. It needs to be replanted each year.* Better example How long does an annual plant generally live? a. only one year* b. only two years c. several years
29. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS7. Keep the alternatives homogeneous in content. *If the alternatives consist of a potpourri of statements related to the stem but unrelated to each other, the student’s task becomes unnecessarily confusing. Alternatives that are parallel in content help the item present a clear-cut problem more capable of measuring the attainment of a specific objective.
30. Poor Example Idaho is widely known as: *a. The largest producer of potatoes in the U.S b. The location of the tallest mountain in the U.S c. The state with a beaver on its flag. d. The “Treasure State.” Better Example Idaho is widely known for its: a. Apples. b. Corn. *c. Potatoes. d. Wheat.
31. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTI