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PART 1: Writing Multiple Choice Test Items Develop one multiple…
PART 1: Writing Multiple Choice Test Items
Develop one multiple choice question that covers content from each of the four chapters listed below.
When writing your sample questions, please keep in mind the specifications regarding item
construction discussed in the textbook. Also, remember the importance of carefully crafted distractor
options. Finally, please limit the number of response options to 4 (1 correct response and 3 distractors)
and avoid the options of “all of the above,” none of the above,” or the like. Be sure to indicate which
of the response options is the correct one.
Chapter 3 Multiple Choice Question (5 points)
Chapter 4 Multiple Choice Question (5 points)
Chapter 5 Multiple Choice Question (5 points)
Chapter 6 Multiple Choice Question (5 points)
PART 2: Item Analysis: Item Difficulty Index (Cohen & Swerdlik, 2017, pg. 248)
PSYC 421
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A test is only as good as its questions! When researchers, test constructors, and educators create items
for ability or achievement tests, we have a responsibility to evaluate the items and make sure that they
are useful and high-quality. The process that we use to evaluate test items is known as Item Analysis.
When bad items are identified and eliminated from a test, that increases the efficiency, reliability and
validity of the entire test! One way that we can distinguish among good and bad items is with the
Item Difficulty Index.
Part 2A: Calculating Item Difficulty
Using the data below, calculate the Item Difficulty Index for the first 6 items on Quiz 1 from a recent
section of PSYC101. For each item, “1” means the item was answered correctly and “0” means it was
answered incorrectly. Type your answers in the spaces provided at the bottom of the table. (2 pts. each)
PSYC101 Quiz 1 Item Distribution and Total Scores
Examinee Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6
Andre 1 1 1 1 1 1
Allison 0 1 1 1 0 0
Heather 1 1 1 1 0 0
Corey 1 1 0 1 1 0
Christina 0 0 1 0 0 1
Jeffrey 0 1 1 1 0 0
Shawn 1 1 1 1 0 1
Dana 0 0 1 1 0 1
Megan 1 1 1 1 0 1
David 0 1 1 1 0 1
Isabel 0 1 0 1 0 0
Lance 1 1 1 1 0 0
Aliyah 0 1 1 1 0 1
Blaire 0 1 1 1 1 1
Gabriel 0 0 1 1 0 0
Item
Difficulty
Part 2B: Calculating Optimal Item Difficulty (1 pt. each)
PSYC 421
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1. For a test item with two response options (e.g., true/false), what is the probability of selecting the
correct answer by chance?
%
2. Calculate the optimal level of difficulty for a test questions with two response options.
.
3. For a test item with three response options, what is the probability of selecting the correct answer
by chance?
%
4. Calculate the optimal level of difficulty for a test questions with three response options.
.
5. For a test item with four response options, what is the probability of selecting the correct answer
by chance?
%
6. Calculate the optimal level of difficulty for a test questions with four response options.
.
7. For a test item with five response options, what is the probability of selecting the correct answer by
chance?
%
8. Calculate the optimal level of difficulty for a test questions with five response options.
.
PART 3: Item Analysis: Item Discrimination Index (Cohen & Swerdlik, 2017, pg. 250-253)
Another way that test creators can distinguish between good and bad items is with an analysis called
the Discrimination Index. The discrimination index measures how well an individual test item
distinguishes between high scorers and low scores on the test. An item is considered to be “good” if
most of the high scorers get it right, and most of the low scorers get it wrong.
Interpreting the Discrimination Index (d)
? The discrimination index can range from -1.0 to 1.0.
? The closer d is to 1.0, the better the item discriminates between high and low scorers
? The closer d is to 0, the more poorly the item discriminates between high and low scorers.
? An item with a negative discrimination index is considered a “negative discriminator” because
more low scorers get the item correct than high scorers.
? A discrimination index of 1.0 means all the high scorers got the item correct and all of the low
scorers got it incorrect.
? A discrimination index of -1.0 means all of the low scorers got the item correct and all of the
high scorers got it incorrect.
? Items with d’s close to 0 or with negative d’s ought to be eliminated from the test!
Calculating the Item Discrimination Index (d)
PSYC 421
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Calculate the item discrimination index (d) for the 7 hypothetical test items presented below. in the spaces provided at the right of the table (2 pts. each).
Item # U L n d
Item 1 0 30 30
Item 2 25 8 30
Item 3 23 19 30
Item 4 26 3 30
Item 5 28 1 30
Item 6 19 5 30
Item 7 3 26 30
Based on your calculations above, answer the following questions (2 pts. each).
1. Which item discriminates the best?
2. Which item discriminates most poorly?
3. Based on your analysis, identify which two items would you choose to eliminate from this test and
explain why you would eliminate each.
Part 4: Item Characteristic Curves (Cohen & Swerdlik, pg. 253-255)
Another method that test creators can use to assess the usefulness of test items is with Item
Characteristic Curves. Item characteristic curves provide a graphical depiction of examinees’
performance on individual test items. As indicated in the figure below, Total Test Score is plotted on
the x-axis of the curve, while proportion of examinees who got the item correct is plotted on the y-axis
PSYC 421
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Using the figure above, provide a written description of how test items A-E discriminate among
examinees at various levels of performance. In your responses, discuss why each item would be
considered a “good” or a “bad” item. EXAMPLE: “This item discriminates well among high scores,
but doesn’t discriminate well among low scorers. So this item would be considered a good item
because it discriminates at the highest levels of performance.” (4 pts. each)
Item A:
Item B:
Item C:
Item D:
Item E:
PSYC 421
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Part 5: Qualitative Item Analysis (Cohen & Swerdlik, pg. 258-260)
Qualitative item analysis refers to a set of non-statistical procedures used to gather information about
the usefulness of test items. These analyses typically involve interviews, panel discussions,
questionnaires and other forms of verbal exchange with test-takers to explore how individual test items
work.
As an online student, you have a very different test-taking experience than residential students. Based
on your readings from Chapter 8, identify 4 topics related to online test taking, and create 4 qualitative
questions that you could ask online test-takers to gain an understanding of their experiences with test-
taking. Also, as students at a Christian institution of higher education, course assignments/assessments
are supposed to give students an opportunity to integrate course content with their Christian
worldview. Given the topic of faith and learning, create one qualitative question that you could ask
test-takers.
Qualitative Item Analysis
