Coded, as opposed to free response items, in a multiple choice physiology test had a cueing effect which raised students' scores, especially for lower achievers. Reliability of coded items was also lower. Item format and scoring method had an effect on test results. (GDC)

Results of a study involving pathology students suggest that there is significant cluing in multiple-true-false test questions that use secondary responses to represent combinations of the primary response (e.g., "Mark B if only 1 and 3 are correct"). Thus test scores are artificially inflated and test reliability is lowered. (JMD)

Major issues related to evaluating student performance in clinical clerkships are reviewed, and the development of a clerkship evaluation system that attempts to deal with each issue is described. Three evaluation methods are utilized: multiple choice examination, oral examination, and ward ratings. (Author/MLW)

Computerized analysis of multiple choice test items is explained. Examples of item analysis applications in the introductory economics course are discussed with respect to three objectives: to evaluate learning; to improve test items; and to help improve classroom instruction. Problems, costs and benefits of the procedures are identified. (JMD)

Results for 3,244 female and 3,033 male junior high school students from the Second International Mathematics Study show that applied items in algebra, geometry, and computation were easier for males but arithmetic items were differentially easier for females. Implications of these findings for assessment and instruction are discussed. (SLD)

A study compared response strategies and error patterns of 272 college freshmen on chemistry test items in multiple choice and constructed response formats. Analysis of test data indicated no significant difference in solution strategies used or types of errors committed across test formats. However, interviews with 21 participants revealed…

This article describes an experimental system for administering multiple-choice math tests to students who are visually impaired or have other print disabilities. Using a new audio-tactile computer peripheral device called the Talking Tactile Tablet, a preliminary version of a self-voicing test was created for eight participants. (Contains…

Describes the "Golden Rule" test construction technique and its legal history. Focuses on the legal/measurement issues and considers alternative procedures for constructing racially "unbiased" tests. Concludes with an analysis of the probable reaction of the present Supreme Court to a constitutional/statutory challenge of the…

Investigates the effects on multiple choice test performance of altering the order and placement of questions and responses. Shows that changing the response pattern appears to alter significantly the apparent degree of difficulty. Response patterns become more dissimilar under certain types of response alterations. (LS)

Item response theory's (IRT) suitability for medical examination data was examined, using data on 2,000 candidates who took the 1980 and 1982 American Board of Internal Medicine Certifying Examinations. Focus was on determining whether the tests met IRT assumptions and applying one-parameter and three-parameter IRT models to the data. (TJH)

Fitting item response models to data from 2 Advanced Placement exams (18,462 and 82,842 students) demonstrates that constructed response items add little to information provided by multiple choice and that scoring on the basis of student item selection gives almost as much information as scoring on the basis of answers. (SLD)

On multiple-choice and translation tests, 87 Swedish-speaking learners of English avoided neither phrasal nor figurative verbs, regardless of whether the verbs were similar to, or different from their Swedish translation equivalence. (Author)

Identifies problems of definition affecting the assessment of writing skills. Considers the strengths and weaknesses of three methods of assessing writing: multiple-choice testing, essay testing, and portfolio assessment. Offers recommendations about what should and should not be done in assessing written communication skills. (DMM)

Figural response (FR) items in architecture were compared with multiple-choice (MC) counterparts for their ability to predict architectural problem-solving proficiency of 33 practicing architects, 34 architecture interns, and 53 architecture students. Although both FR and MC predicted verbal design problem solving, only FR scores predicted…

Describes the application of the Instruction Parsed Corpus as data in the Word Class Drills version 1.0 (WCD v1.0), a simple CALL program teaching word classes or grammatical parts of speech. The WCD v1.0 provides two modes of language learning activities, "viz.", the learning mode and the testing mode. (three references) (Author/CK)