This study explored the impact of homogeneity of answer choices on item difficulty and discrimination. Twenty-two matched pairs of elementary and secondary mathematics items were administered to randomly equivalent samples of students. Each item pair comparison was treated as a separate study with the set of effect sizes analyzed using…

Although multiple-choice items (MCIs) are widely used for classroom assessment, designing MCIs with sufficient number of plausible distracters is very challenging for teachers. In this regard, previous empirical studies reveal that using three-option MCIs provides various advantages when compared to four-option MCIs due to less preparation and…

Multiple-choice (MC) items are commonly used in high-stake tests. Thus, each item of such tests should be meticulously constructed to increase the accuracy of decisions based on test results. Haladyna and his colleagues (2002) addressed the valid item-writing guidelines to construct high quality MC items in order to increase test reliability and…