Randomize It: Fair Procedures When Constructing Multiple-Choice Test-Keys

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Randomize It: Fair Procedures When Constructing Multiple-Choice Test-Keys
Language: English
Authors: Joseph, Dane Christian
Source: Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education. Spr 2019 2(1):80-92.
Availability: Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education. Centers for Teaching Excellence and Faculty Leadership, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403. e-mail: jethe@uncw.edu; Web site: https://jethe.org/index.php/jethe
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2019
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Test Construction, Multiple Choice Tests, Guessing (Tests), Test Wiseness, Answer Keys, Test Interpretation, Guidelines, Science Tests, Biology, Test Format, Undergraduate Students
ISSN: 2578-7608
Abstract: Multiple-choice testing is a staple within the U.S. higher education system. From classroom assessments to standardized entrance exams such as the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT, test developers utilize a variety of validated and heuristic driven item-writing guidelines. One such guideline that has been given recent attention is to randomize the position of the correct answer throughout the entire answer key. Doing this theoretically limits the number of correct guesses that test takers can make and thus reduces the amount of construct-irrelevant variance in test score interpretations. This study empirically tested the strategy to randomize the answer-key. Specifically, a factorial ANOVA was conducted to examine differences in General Biology classroom multiple-choice test scores by the interaction of method for varying the correct answer's position and student ability. Although no statistically significant differences were found, the paper argues that the guideline is nevertheless ethically substantiated.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2019
Accession Number: EJ1214927
Database: ERIC
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  Availability: 0
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  Data: Randomize It: Fair Procedures When Constructing Multiple-Choice Test-Keys
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  Data: Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education. Centers for Teaching Excellence and Faculty Leadership, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403. e-mail: jethe@uncw.edu; Web site: https://jethe.org/index.php/jethe
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiple+Choice+Tests%22">Multiple Choice Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guessing+%28Tests%29%22">Guessing (Tests)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Wiseness%22">Test Wiseness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Answer+Keys%22">Answer Keys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Interpretation%22">Test Interpretation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guidelines%22">Guidelines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Tests%22">Science Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology%22">Biology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Format%22">Test Format</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink>
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  Data: Multiple-choice testing is a staple within the U.S. higher education system. From classroom assessments to standardized entrance exams such as the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT, test developers utilize a variety of validated and heuristic driven item-writing guidelines. One such guideline that has been given recent attention is to randomize the position of the correct answer throughout the entire answer key. Doing this theoretically limits the number of correct guesses that test takers can make and thus reduces the amount of construct-irrelevant variance in test score interpretations. This study empirically tested the strategy to randomize the answer-key. Specifically, a factorial ANOVA was conducted to examine differences in General Biology classroom multiple-choice test scores by the interaction of method for varying the correct answer's position and student ability. Although no statistically significant differences were found, the paper argues that the guideline is nevertheless ethically substantiated.
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  Data: EJ1214927
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 80
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Test Construction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multiple Choice Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Guessing (Tests)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Wiseness
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      – SubjectFull: Answer Keys
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      – SubjectFull: Test Interpretation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Guidelines
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      – SubjectFull: Science Tests
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      – SubjectFull: Biology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Format
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Randomize It: Fair Procedures When Constructing Multiple-Choice Test-Keys
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