Multiple-choice Questions
Definition A
multiple-choice question consists of two parts. The first is a question
or incomplete statement called the “stem.” Second are the choices that
are possible answers to the questions or that complete the statement.
Characteristics of multiple-choice
questions
- Can present problems involving reasoning and judgment
- Can check memory for facts
- Check recognition but not recall
- Scoring is objective rather than subjective.
Example - good
Which type of test do college admissions offices use most often
in reviewing applications? - Question stem
a. ETS
b. CAT Choices, responses, alternatives
c. IQ
d. SAT
Example - bad
Joan is a top-level gymnast on her college team and is amenorrheic.
This means that she
a. Has not yet experienced puberty.
b. Is much shorter than most girls her age.
c. Starves herself.
d. *Does not menstruate.
Main error: There is not necessarily a relationship between being
a top-level gymnast and being amenorrheic.
Advantages of multiple-choice questions
- Many kinds and types of subject matter and learning outcomes can be
measured
- Item analysis can provide diagnostic information
- Easy to score
Disadvantages
- Challenging to write higher level questions, e.g., procedural, metacognitive
- Cannot test ability to organize and present knowledge
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