Question 1

Which of the following describes one advantage of multiple-choice items over matching items?
A)for multiple choice items, clearly stated objectives are not needed
B)multiple choice items are more adaptable to different types of outcomes
C)multiple choice items require less testing time
D)there is less need to correct for guessing on multiple choice items

Accepted Answer

Multiple-choice items can assess a wider range of learning outcomes, such as application and analysis, compared to matching items, which are typically limited to recall and recognition.

Question 2

Inexperienced item writers will produce more effective multiple-choice items if they start with which of the following?
A)best-answer items
B)a list of possible alternatives
C)the stem in question form
D)the entire test blueprint

Accepted Answer

Starting with the stem in question form helps focus the item writer on the specific content and cognitive level being assessed, making it easier to develop relevant and effective alternatives.

Question 3

When using the "best-answer" type of multiple-choice item, which of the following should be included?
A)a stem that consists of at least three sentences
B)the alternative "none of the above"
C)more than seven alternatives
D)alternatives of equal length

Accepted Answer

Alternatives of equal length help to avoid giving away the correct answer by making it stand out due to its length.

Question 4

A multiple-choice item that measures at the understanding level must include which of the following?
A)a table of specifications
B)a situation that is new to the students
C)at least two plausible distracters
D)introductory material that requires a high level of reading ability

Accepted Answer

A multiple-choice item that measures understanding should present a situation that is new to the students, requiring them to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar contexts, which demonstrates their comprehension.

Question 5

Which of the following learning outcomes is most likely to require the best-answer type of multiple-choice item?
A)Distinguishes between fact and opinion.
B)Identifies the dates of historical events.
C)Understands specific historical facts.
D)Selects the reason a historical event occurred.

Accepted Answer

Selecting the reason a historical event occurred requires critical thinking and analysis, which is best assessed through best-answer type questions.

Question 6

Which of the following provides the best stem for a multiple-choice item?
A)Penicillin is
B)Penicillin was discovered by
C)Penicillin, which has many uses in medicine, was discovered by
D)Which of the following scientists discovered penicillin?

Accepted Answer

The stem should be clear and direct, posing a complete question or problem that the options can answer.

Question 7

Which of the following sets of alternatives would be best for a multiple-choice item about a battle in the Civil War?
A)Davis, Grant, Lincoln, none of the above.
B)Lincoln, Mason-Dixon Line, Sherman, Vicksburg.
C)Grant, Jackson, Lee, Sherman.
D)Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington.

Accepted Answer

The correct set of alternatives includes names of key military figures from the Civil War, making it relevant to a question about a battle during that period.

Question 8

One advantage of multiple-choice items over true-false items is that they reduce the
A)chance for cheating.
B)difficulty of machine scoring.
C)influence of guessing on the score.
D)time needed in test preparation.

Accepted Answer

Multiple-choice items reduce the influence of guessing on the score because they offer more options, making it less likely for a test-taker to guess the correct answer compared to true-false items, which have a 50% chance of being guessed correctly.

Question 9

A distracter in a multiple-choice item refers to which of the following?
A)an alternative that is plausible yet clearly incorrect
B)alternatives that may be correct under certain circumstances
C)negatively stated alternatives
D)any alternative that diverts the reader's attention away from the item stem

Accepted Answer

A distracter is an alternative that is plausible yet clearly incorrect, designed to mislead or distract the test-taker from the correct answer.

Question 10

A 50-item multiple-choice test would provide more reliable test scores than a 50-item true-false test because
A)a bigger spread of scores is obtained.
B)greater care is needed during item writing.
C)the items can be written to include correct answers.
D)the scoring is more objective.

Accepted Answer

A multiple-choice test typically results in a wider distribution of scores compared to a true-false test, which can lead to more reliable differentiation between test-takers' abilities.

Question 11

An incorrect alternative can be made more plausible by
A)avoiding textbook language.
B)making it grammatically inconsistent with the stem.
C)making it shorter than the others.
D)using common errors made by students.

Accepted Answer

Using common errors made by students can make an incorrect alternative more plausible because it taps into misconceptions or mistakes that students are likely to make, making the incorrect option seem more believable.

Question 12

Which of the following provides the best stem for a multiple-choice item?
A)Which of the following did not contribute to the depression?
B)One major factor that contributed to the depression is
C)The depression was
D)The depression was caused by

Accepted Answer

The stem of a multiple-choice item should provide a clear and concise question or statement that the item is based on. Option B provides a clear stem that asks about a major factor that contributed to the depression, which is the focus of the item.

Question 13

The problem presented in a multiple-choice item should be clear after reading which of the following?
A)item stem
B)the correct answer
C)the distracters
D)item stem and all the alternatives

Accepted Answer

The answer of The problem presented in a multiple-choice item...

Question 14

The reliability of a multiple-choice item test will tend to increase, with an increase in which of the following?
A)difficulty of items
B)number of learning outcomes measured
C)number of alternatives in each item
D)diversity in the group being tested

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of alternatives in each item can reduce the probability of guessing the correct answer, thereby increasing the reliability of the test.

Question 15

Which of the following learning outcomes is most likely to require the best-answer type of multiple-choice item?
A)Can justify methods and procedures
B)Can identify proper grammar usage
C)Can distinguish between fact and opinion
D)Can understand specific facts

Accepted Answer

The best-answer type of multiple-choice item is most likely to require the learner to justify methods and procedures, as this outcome requires the learner to demonstrate a deep understanding of the material and the ability to apply it to new situations.

Question 16

One advantage of multiple-choice items over short-answer items is that multiple choice items
A)encourage students to study harder.
B)measure computation skill more effectively than short-answer items.
C)provide more freedom of response.
D)provide a more objective measure of achievement.

Accepted Answer

Multiple-choice items are scored objectively, reducing the potential for scorer bias, unlike short-answer items which may be subjectively graded.

Question 17

In order to measure application with multiple-choice items, the problem situations should be
A)described in complex terms.
B)new to the students.
C)the same as those solved in class.
D)able to measure factual knowledge.

Accepted Answer

The problem situations should be new to the students to effectively measure their ability to apply knowledge to unfamiliar contexts, rather than just recalling information or repeating what was done in class.

Question 18

What is wrong with the stem of the following multiple-choice question? "Which of the following states is the largest state in the United States?"
A)Largest can be measured either geographically or by population.
B)It measures opinion rather than fact.
C)It measures only a lower order skill.
D)It should be posed as a statement instead of a question.

Accepted Answer

The question is ambiguous because "largest" can refer to either geographical size or population size, making it unclear what is being asked.

Question 19

A major drawback in using multiple-choice items in which more than one alternative may be marked as correct creates a difficulty in
A)administering the test.
B)constructing the test items.
C)developing directions for the test.
D)scoring the test.

Accepted Answer

Scoring the test becomes difficult because it requires a more complex system to account for multiple correct answers and partial credit.

Question 20

Which of the following sets of alternatives is best for the following multiple-choice item: "The perimeter of a rectangle 4 inches long and 2 inches wide is ???______"?
A)6 inches, 8 inches, 12 inches, 16 inches
B)2 inches, 12 inches, 24 inches, 36 inches
C)11 inches, 12 inches, 13 inches, 22 inches
D)2 inches, 3 inches, 17 inches, 18 inches

Accepted Answer

The perimeter of a rectangle is calculated as 2*(length + width). For a rectangle 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, the perimeter is 2*(4+2) = 12 inches. Option A includes 12 inches as a choice.

Quiz 8: Constructing Objective Test Items 2

Which of the following describes one advantage of multiple-choice items over matching items?

Inexperienced item writers will produce more effective multiple-choice items if they start with which of the following?

When using the "best-answer" type of multiple-choice item, which of the following should be included?

A multiple-choice item that measures at the understanding level must include which of the following?

Which of the following learning outcomes is most likely to require the best-answer type of multiple-choice item?

Which of the following provides the best stem for a multiple-choice item?

Which of the following sets of alternatives would be best for a multiple-choice item about a battle in the Civil War?

One advantage of multiple-choice items over true-false items is that they reduce the

A distracter in a multiple-choice item refers to which of the following?

A 50-item multiple-choice test would provide more reliable test scores than a 50-item true-false test because

An incorrect alternative can be made more plausible by

Which of the following provides the best stem for a multiple-choice item?

The problem presented in a multiple-choice item should be clear after reading which of the following?

The reliability of a multiple-choice item test will tend to increase, with an increase in which of the following?

Which of the following learning outcomes is most likely to require the best-answer type of multiple-choice item?

One advantage of multiple-choice items over short-answer items is that multiple choice items

In order to measure application with multiple-choice items, the problem situations should be

What is wrong with the stem of the following multiple-choice question? "Which of the following states is the largest state in the United States?"

A major drawback in using multiple-choice items in which more than one alternative may be marked as correct creates a difficulty in

Which of the following sets of alternatives is best for the following multiple-choice item: "The perimeter of a rectangle 4 inches long and 2 inches wide is ???______"?