A study to determine student knowledge and confidence in that knowledge when answering multiple-choice examination questions in a nonprescription drug course is described. An alternate approach to methods of confidence testing was investigated. The knowledge and experience survey is appended. (Author/MLW)

Describes the design and operation of two macros written in the programming language of Microsoft's EXCEL for educational research applications. The first macro determines the frequency of responses to a Likert-type questionnaire or multiple-choice test; the second performs a one-way analysis of variance test. (Author/LRW)

This paper discusses various issues involved in using the Rasch Model with multiple-choice tests and questions the suitability of this model for multiple-choice items. Results of some past studies supporting the model are shown to be irrelevant. The effects of the model's misfit on test equating are demonstrated. (Author JAZ)

The relationship between general metamemory and how well university students performed on in-class multiple choice exams was studied. Correlational and contingency analysis showed a positive relation between classroom performance and students' recommended use of organizational and self testing strategies when they planned study for a free-recall…

The Search of Associative Memory (SAM) model for recall is extended by assuming that a familiarity process is used for recognition. The model, formalized in a computer simulation program, correctly predicts a number of findings in the literature as well as results from an experiment on the word-frequency effect. (Author/BW)

Investigated the effect on student performance of changes in question structure and sequence on a GCE 0-level multiple-choice chemistry test. One finding noted is that there was virtually no change in test reliability on reducing the number of options (from five to per test item). (JN)

Compares and contrasts the abilities of normal and learning disabled students to abstract spelling patterns in the course of their acquisition of spelling skills. The performance of the learning disabled was significantly below that of the normal students. In addition, error analysis indicates that the responses of the learning disabled spellers…

Program specifics, problems, modification, and use of a general quiz program that can be utilized by teachers with essentially no programing experience are described. A printout of the program is included. Written in BASIC for the TRS-80 I/II, it can be adapted to any computer. (MBR)

Investigated whether students would perceive items arranged in a hard-medium-easy order as being more difficult than the same items arranged in an easy-medium-hard order and whether the arrangements would influence scores. (MS)

This study, one of a series designed to answer practical questions about performance based assessment, examined the comparability of school scores on short, nonparallel test forms. The data were obtained from mathematics tests with both multiple choice (MC) and performance assessment (PA) items. The tests were administered in a statewide testing…

Item writing is a major responsibility of trainers. Too often, qualified staff who prepare lessons carefully and teach conscientiously use inadequate tests that do not validly reflect the true level of trainee achievement. This monograph describes techniques for constructing multiple-choice items that measure student performance accurately. It…

This paper compares modified Guttman and item response theory (IRT) based procedures for classifying examinees in ordered levels when each level is represented by several multiple choice test items. In the modified Guttman procedure, within-level number correct scores are mapped to binary level mastery scores. Examinees are then assigned to levels…

This paper looked at the experience that college students have when taking exams. The sample population was made up of students completing their first exam of the semester. The study was designed to offer research-based support on how to help students improve their performance on multiple-choice exams. Student perceptions of the number of items…

The purpose of this study was to gather empirical evidence to compare the reliabilities and concurrent validities of multiple choice and true-false tests that were written to measure understandings and relationships in the same content areas. (Author)