Research related to the multiple choice test item is reported, as it is conducted by educational technologists in Japan. Sato's number of hypothetical equivalent alternatives is introduced. The based idea behind this index is that the expected uncertainty of the m events, or alternatives, be large and the number of hypothetical, equivalent alternatives be close to m. A new index, K*, is proposed as a modification of m; it is a means of invalidating the three-parameter logistic model for the multiple choice item. Shiba's research on the measurement of vocabulary, which is based upon latent trait theory, is introduced; this includes an eventual tailored test on vocabulary, utilizing information obtained from distractors as well as correct answers. A new family of models for the multiple choice item is proposed, formulating both the operating characteristics of distractors and the effect of random guessing. (Author/GK)