scholarly journals Should students change their answers on multiple choice questions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 182-190
Author(s):  
Justin W. Merry ◽  
Mary Kate Elenchin ◽  
Renee N. Surma

Multiple choice exams are ubiquitous, but advice on test-taking strategies varies and is not always well informed by research. This study evaluated the question of whether students benefit or are harmed when they change their initial answers on multiple choice questions in the context of physiology and biology courses. Previously marked examinations were reviewed for eraser marks that indicated answer changes, and the impact of these changes on exam grades was tabulated. In addition, faculty and students were surveyed for their opinions about changing answers. A plurality of faculty (36%) reported a belief that answer changes usually harm student grades, whereas a slim majority of students (51%) believed that answer changing helped their scores (χ2 = 60.52, P < 0.0001). Empirically, across two exams, students changed their answer from an incorrect answer to a correct one 2.8 times (SD 2.2) compared with 1.0 time (SD 1.4) changing in the negative direction. Therefore, on average, students benefited ( V =  123.5, P < 0.0001) from answer changing. Furthermore, comparing across two exams in the same course, some students were consistently more likely to change their answers than others (adjusted R2= 0.23, P < 0.0001), but the impact of changing answers on the first exam provided no prediction of how much a student would benefit from answer changing on the second exam (adjusted R2= −0.004, P = 0.42). These data support the argument that students should be advised to review and revise responses to exam questions before submitting them.

Author(s):  
Kelly Cline ◽  
Holly Zullo ◽  
David A Huckaby

Abstract Common student errors and misconceptions can be addressed through the method of classroom voting, in which the instructor presents a multiple-choice question to the class, and after a few minutes for consideration and small-group discussion, each student votes on the correct answer, using a clicker or a phone. If a large number of students have voted for one particular incorrect answer, the instructor can recognize and address the issue. In order to identify multiple-choice questions that are especially effective at provoking common errors and misconceptions, we recorded the percentages of students voting for each option on each question used in 25 sections of integral calculus, taught by 7 instructors, at 4 institutions, over the course of 12 years, on a collection of 172 questions. We restricted our analysis to the 115 questions which were voted on by at least 5 different classes. We present the six questions that caused the largest percentages of students to vote for a particular incorrect answer, discuss how we used these questions in the classroom, and examine the common features of these questions. Further, we look for correlations between question characteristics and the mean percentage of students voting for common errors on these questions, and we find that questions based on general cases have higher percentages of students voting for common errors.


2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanda Stankovic ◽  
Dejan Lalovic

Standardized reading comprehension tests (RCTs) usually consist of a small number of texts each accompanied by several multiple-choice questions, with texts and questions simultaneously presented. The score the common measure of reading comprehension ability in RCTs is the score. Literature review suggests that strategies subjects employ may influence their performance on RCT, however the score itself provides no information on the specific strategy employed. Knowledge of test-taking strategies could have impact on understanding of the actual purpose and benefits of using RCTs in pedagogical and psychological practice. With the ultimate objective of constructing a first standard RCT in Serbian language, the preliminary step we took was to conduct an experimental reading comprehension task (ERCT) consisting of 27 short texts displayed in succession, each followed by a single multiplechoice question. Using qualitative analysis of subjects? responses in semi-structured postexperimental interview, we identified four overall strategies used on ERCT. Our results show that groups of students who used specific strategies differed significantly from one another in text reading time, with no differences found regarding the question reading and answering time. More importantly, there were no significant between-group differences found in terms of ERCT score. These findings suggest that choice of strategy is a way to optimize the relation between one?s own potential and ERCT task requirements. RCT based on ERCT principles would allow for a flexible choice of strategy which would not influence the final score.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Nunnink ◽  
A.-M. Welsh ◽  
M. Abbey ◽  
C. Buschel

Emergency chest reopen of the post cardiac surgical patient in the intensive care unit is a high-stakes but infrequent procedure which requires a high-level team response and a unique skill set. We evaluated the impact on knowledge and confidence of team-based chest reopen training using a patient simulator compared with standard video-based training. We evaluated 49 medical and nursing participants before and after training using a multiple choice questions test and a questionnaire of self-reported confidence in performing or assisting with emergency reopen. Both video- and simulation-based training significantly improved results in objective and subjective domains. Although the post-test scores did not differ between the groups for either the objective (P=0.28) or the subjective measures (P=0.92), the simulation-based training produced a numerically larger improvement in both domains. In a multiple choice question out of 10, participants improved by a mean of 1.9 marks with manikin-based training compared to 0.9 with video training (P=0.03). On a questionnaire out of 20 assessing subjective levels of confidence, scores improved by 3.9 with manikin training compared to 1.2 with video training (P=0.002). Simulation-based training appeared to be at least as effective as video-based training in improving both knowledge and confidence in post cardiac surgical emergency resternotomy.


1978 ◽  
Vol 42 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1109-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Porter Tuck

90 students in introductory psychology responded to a questionnaire designed to assess test-taking strategies on multiple-choice tests. The data suggested that previous studies may not have actually tested item-difficulty sequence effects since item sequence is under examinees' control.


2021 ◽  
pp. 73-77

In this account we report a study that surveyed and quantified the opinion on the acceptability of genetically modified (GM) crops by farmers working in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County located in North Easter Hungary. Authors answered the question whether there is a difference in perception and reasoning of the county’s agricultural workers regarding GM crops. We evaluated the impact of age, gender, education, and agricultural education of responders on rating GM plants to be more dangerous than traditional crops. Is there a relevant difference when responders are administered multiple choice questions, rather than single choice questions? Can we change farmers’ position on the GM technology by using multiple choice questions?


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Erni Kurniati ◽  
Soeprijanto ◽  
Irzan Zakir

Abstract This research has the purpose to knowing the value of the lighting level in the room at primary school, is in conformity with applicable regulations or not and to knowing teacher’s knowledge and understanding level about the school lighting system. This research conducted in May until July 2016 at primary school in Kelurahan Rawamangun, East Jakarta. This research is quantitative descriptive with survey method. The sampling technique used in this research is random purposive sampling, where purposive that schools are not taken in a period of improvement and the respondent teachers are permanent teachers. Samples taken random with a degree of error of ± 10 %, so sample taken is 10 schools and 80 teachers. The results of this research is a translation percentage descriptive of the data suitability lighting levels at one to six classrooms, a teachers' room, library and science laboratories when sunny weather use the lights and do not use lights. And data of teacher’s understanding of school lighting system, which divided into five dimensions is healthy condition in classrooms, the lighting in the classrooms, electrical energy-saving concept of the school, the impact of lighting on health and health dan safety in the classroom as stated in 15 item multiple-choice questions. The results of this research stated that 10 schools have measured lighting levels can be concluded that the 0 % suitability rate of illumination for the one classroom, second classroom, third classroom, fourth classroom and science laboratories, 10 % suitability for the five classroom, six classroom dan teacher’s room when using the lights and do not use the lights. And suitability for the library is 11.1 % when not using lights and 12.5 % when using light. And from the research data of objective tests 15 item multiple-choice question for teacher's understanding can be concluded that the percentage of comprehension for the dimensions of healthy condition in classroom is 83.33 %, the dimensions of the lighting in the classroom is 40.416 % , the dimensions of the electrical energy-saving concept of the school is 92.5 % , dimensions of the impact of lighting on health is 68.75 % , and the dimensions of health and safety in the classroom is 49.58 % . There are several dimensions that are not understood by the teacher’s, because it need an advanced program for theacher’s follow-up to can better understand the kind of school lighting system. Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui nilai tingkat pencahayaan pada ruang-ruang sekolah dasar apakah sudah sesuai dengan ketentuan yang berlaku dan untuk mengetahui tingkat pemahaman guru mengenai sistem pencahayaan sekolah. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Mei sampai dengan bulan Juli 2016 di sekolah dasar di lingkungan kelurahan Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuntitatif deskriptif dengan menggunakan metode survei. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu teknik acak dengan pertimbangan tertentu (random purposive sampling), dimana pertimbangannya yaitu sekolah yang diambil tidak dalam masa perbaikan dan responden guru-guru merupakan guru tetap. Sampel pada penelitian ini diambil secara acak (random) dengan taraf kesalahan penelitian ±10 %, sehingga jumlah sampel yang diambil yaitu sebanyak 10 sekolah dan 80 orang guru-guru Hasil penelitian ini berupa penjabaran secara persentase deskriptif mengenai data kesesuaian tingkat pencahayaan pada ruang kelas satu sampai enam, ruang guru, perpustakaan dan laboratorium IPA saat cuaca cerah menggunakan lampu dan tidak menggunakan lampu. Serta data pemahaman responden guru-guru tentang sistem pencahayaan sekolah yang terjabarkan dalam lima dimensi yaitu kondisi ruang belajar yang sehat, pencahayaan pada ruang belajar, konsep hemat energi listrik sekolah, dampak pencahayaan terhadap kesehatan dan kesehatan dan keselamatan kerja pada ruang belajar yang tertuang dalam 15 item pertanyaan pilihan ganda. Hasil penelitian ini menyatakan bahwa dari 10 sekolah yang diukur tingkat pencahayaan didapatkan kesimpulan bahwa 0% kesesuaian tingkat pencahayaan untuk ruang kelas satu, kelas dua, kelas tiga, kelas empat dan ruang laboratorium IPA, 10 % kesesuaian untuk ruang kelas lima, ruang kelas enam dan ruang guru baik saat menggunakan lampu dan tidak menggunakan lampu. Untuk ruang perpustakaan yaitu 11.1 % kesesuaiannya saat tidak menggunakan lampu dan 12.5 % kesesuaiannya saat menggunakan lampu. Dari data hasil penelitian tes objektif berbentuk pilihan ganda 15 item pertanyaan untuk pemahaman guru dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa persentase pemahaman untuk dimensi kondisi ruang belajar yang sehat yaitu 83.33%, dimensi pencahayaan pada ruang belajar yaitu 40.416%, dimensi konsep hemat energi listrik sekolah yaitu 92.5%, dimensi dampak pencahayaan terhadap kesehatan yaitu 68.75%, dan dimensi kesehatan dan keselamatan kerja pada ruang belajar yaitu 49.58%. Masih terdapat beberapa dimensi yang tidak dipahami oleh guru dengan baik oleh karena itu perlu diadakan sebuah program lanjutan agar guru-guru dapat lebih memahami sistem pencahayaan yang baik pada sekolah.


Author(s):  
Dwi Yunita ◽  
Astuti Wijayanti

This research is aimed to know the impact of using video as a media toward the learning result of sciences for students in class VII in SMPN 1 Turi on 2016/2017 which is looked by the student’s creativity. This research is quasi experiment. The object of this research is the student’s result. The technique of data collection is using test, questioner and documentation techniques. Instrument test is containing with 30 multiple-choice questions, and questioner instrument is containing with 20 statements. As the result, the researcher obtained Fcalculate = 19,747 and p = 0,000, the average of learning result is 20,78, the average of questioner is 60,09. Based on the average of learning result and questioner, then there is an impact by video as a media toward the learning result of sciences for students in class VII which is looked by the student’s creativity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Sanjay Heist ◽  
Jed David Gonzalo ◽  
Steven Durning ◽  
Dario Torre ◽  
David Michael Elnicki

Abstract Background Clinical vignette multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are widely used in medical education, but clinical reasoning (CR) strategies employed when approaching these questions have not been well described. Objectives The aims of the study were (1) to identify CR strategies and test-taking (TT) behaviors of physician trainees while solving clinical vignette MCQs; and (2) to examine the relationships between CR strategies and behaviors, and performance on a high-stakes clinical vignette MCQ examination. Methods Thirteen postgraduate year–1 level trainees completed 6 clinical vignette MCQs using a think-aloud protocol. Thematic analysis employing elements of grounded theory was performed on data transcriptions to identify CR strategies and TT behaviors. Participants' CR strategies and TT behaviors were then compared with their US Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge scores. Results Twelve CR strategies and TT behaviors were identified. Individuals with low performance on Step 2 Clinical Knowledge demonstrated increased premature closure and increased faulty knowledge, and showed comparatively less ruling out of alternatives or admission of knowledge deficits. High performers on Step 2 Clinical Knowledge demonstrated increased ruling out of alternatives and admission of knowledge deficits, and less premature closure, faulty knowledge, or closure prior to reading the alternatives. Conclusions Different patterns of CR strategies and TT behaviors may be used by high and low performers during high-stakes clinical vignette MCQ examinations.


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