Haladyna and Downing (1989a) analyzed 46 references based on developing multiplechoice
items. They conducted a second study analyzing 90 research studies pertaining to the
validity of item writing rules (Haladyna & Downing, 1989b). Through their extensive
investigation they provided guidance for developing and validating multiple-choice items.
Halaydyna (2004) focused on four aspects of multiple-choice development: “(1) foundations for
multiple-choice testing, (2) development of multiple-choice items, (3) validity evidence arising
from item development and item response validation, and (4) the future of item writing and item
response validation” (pp. v-vi).