The study investigated the comparison of the difficulty and discrimination incides of three multiple choice tests using the confidence scoring procedure (CSP). The study was also set to determine whether or not the difficulty and discrimination indices would be improved, if the tests were scored by the confidence scoring procedure. Two null…

This article examined two item-writing guidelines: the format of the item stem and homogeneity of the answer set. Answering the call of Haladyna, Downing, and Rodriguez (2002) for empirical tests of item writing guidelines and extending the work of Smith and Smith (1988) on differential use of item characteristics, a mock multiple-choice driver's…

To what extent a blended learning configuration of face-to-face lectures, online on-demand video recordings of the face-to-face lectures and the offering of online quizzes with appropriate feedback has an additional positive impact on the performance of these students compared to the traditional face-to-face course approach? In a between-subjects…

Despite the existence of little empirical evidence for their effectiveness, many techniques have been suggested for writing multiple-choice items. The option "none of the above" (NA) has been widely used although a recent review of empirical studies of NA suggests that, while generally decreasing the difficulty index, NA also decreases…

An alternative to the conventional right-wrong scoring method used on multiple-choice tests was presented. In the experiment, the examinee continued to respond to a multiple-choice item until feedback signified a correct answer. Findings showed that experimental scores were more reliable but less valid than inferred conventional scores.…

Results support the contention that a Guttman-weighted objective test can have psychometric properties that are superior to those of its unweighted counterpart, as long as omissions do not exist or are assigned a value equal to the mean of the k item alternative weights. (Author/BJG)

A technique is described for reducing the incidence of cheating on multiple choice exams. One form of the test is used and each item is assigned multiple numbers. Depending upon the instructions given to the class, some students will use the first of each pair of numbers to determine where to place their responses on a separate answer sheet, while…

States that "objective tests" are based on suppositions. Different types yield different results; therefore they cannot all be objective. The commonly accepted idea that multiple-choice tests are the most objective is attacked. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A norm distribution consisting of test scores received by 810 college students on a 150 item dichotomously-scored four-alternative multiple-choice test was empirically estimated through several item-examinee sampling procedures. The post mortem item-sampling investigation was specifically designed to manipulate systematically the variables of…

The separation level of grades on a multiple-choice examination as a quantitative probabilistic criterion for correct classification of students by the examination was introduced by Krutchoff. (Author)

Indices reflecting the probability that the observed similarity between the multiple-choice test responses of two examinees was due to chance are presented. Applications are presented for apprehending cheaters and for evaluating the prevalence of this form of cheating on an examination. (Author/JKS)

Whether alternative scoring strategies result in improved measurement properties of patient management problems (PMPs) was studied. Nine scoring systems (proficiency, efficiency, select, omit, data gathering, therapy, absolute, goal-oriented, and empiric expert score) were applied to 16 PMPs used in a certifying examination taken by 4,590…

Altering first choices on multiple-choice questions on a medical examination (Canadian Self-Assessment Examination in Psychiatry) was examined to see whether this led to an increase or decrease in the final score. Examinees were one-and-a-half times more likely to improve than lower their score. (MLW)