This study was designed to examine the level of dependence within multiple true-false test-item clusters by computing sets of item correlations with data from a test composed of both multiple true-false and multiple-choice items. (Author/LMO)

The relationship between scores on objective tests of language skills and on free writing tasks was analyzed for third and eighth graders. Correlations between scores were of the same magnitude as reported for college students. Differences in relationships between free-writing performance and objective test scores are discussed. (Author/RD)

In a Monte Carlo simulation, a methodology was developed to investigate the existence of radex properties among objective test items. In an experiment with items covering four categories of Bloom's cognitive domain taxonomy, the items did not have the factorial properties of a radex with four levels of complexity. (Author/BW)

Consistency of gain from changing test answers was tested for students instructed about answer-changing research results, and composition of the gain was analyzed by examining the students' reasons for changing. Mean gain remained positive and consistent with gain for previously studied uninstructed groups; amount of change was also stable.…

The relative efficacy of content-appropriate, orally administered true/false and multiple-choice testing was examined with retarded adolescents. Both approaches demonstrated utility and psychometric adequacy. Implications regarding test development for retarded students are briefly discussed. (Author)

Intercorrelations among multiple true-false items were examined to determine to what extent each choice can be treated as independent. Results from 157 health science and 170 medical students indicated that correlations between options from the same stem were larger than those from different stems. Methods for computing reliability estimates were…

Interviews were conducted with 104 students in masters' level classes to determine their reasons for changing test answers. Subjects previously had been instructed in answer-changing strategies. Most changes were for thought out reasons; few were because of clerical errors. Reconsideration of test items is probably underestimated in…

A 100-item five-choice multiple choice (MC) biology final exam was converted to multiple choice true-false (MTF) form to yield two content-parallel test forms comprised of the two item types. Students found the MTF items easier and preferred MTF over MC; the MTF subtests were more reliable. (Author/GK)

Random samples of free-response tests (200 males and 200 females) were taken from the 1986 U.S. History advanced placement examination. Rescoring focusing on historical content and analyses indicate that free-response tasks, in contrast with objective tests, may have inherent characteristics that reward females' English-composition abilities. (SLD)