A Comparison of the Two-Option Versus the Four-Option Multiple-Choice Item: A Case for Fewer Distractors

Multiple choice test items typically consist of the key and 3-4 distractors. However, research has supported the efficacy of using fewer alternatives. Haladyna and Downing (1993) found that it is difficult to write test items with more than one plausible distractor, resulting in items with a correct answer and one alternative, also known as the alternate choice (AC) format. We constructed two 32-item tests; one with four alternatives (MC4) and one with two (AC), using an inter-judge agreement approach to eliminate distractors. Tests were administered to 138 personnel working for a U.S. Government agency. Testing time was significantly less and scores were higher for the AC test. However, score differences disappeared when both forms were corrected for guessing. There were no significant differences in test difficulty (mean p-values). The corrected KR-20 reliabilities for both forms, after applying the Spearman-Brown formula, were AC = .816 and MC4 = .893. We discuss the results with respect to the resources spent writing and reviewing test items, and in more broadly sampling a content domain using the AC format due to reduced testing times.

Decision Support System in Choosing The Quality of Charcoal Briquettes from Coconut Shell to Improve The Quality and Maximised by The Method of Analytical Hierarchy Process (the case study in Padang pariaman)

The regency of Padang Pariaman is one of the centres of the plantation to the plant oil in the region of West Sumatra. Many find various types of plant oil that spread in every area. Decision-Making system (DSS) should be able to understand the problems that exist that are the basis for the decision (the decision Maker) to determine the priority of the selection and determine the type of charcoal coconut charcoal quality to be used as briquettes. This study obtained the top Level (Goal) is the selection of Charcoal Material priorities approved as the purpose of this study. The Level of the heart (the Criterion) in the hierarchy that shows the criteria that the Color of the Skin, Coconut Fiber, Coconut Shell, water Content, Coconut Meat. The lowest Level (Alternatives) in the hierarchy that shows the alternate choice of the Type of Coconut, which is helpful as briquettes, that Old Coconut, Coconut Koreang, Coconut Mudang, Young Coconut. Of the highest rank possessed by the alternatives is the type of Old Coconuts (0.600) and second by the kind of Coconut Koreang 2 (0.242), the Type of Coconut 3 Coconut Mudang (0.113) and ranking low is a Young Coconut (0.046) as a material consideration in the manufacture of charcoal quality then in the analysis, the priority is the “Old Palm” Keywords: Coconut, Briquettes, Shell, DSS, AHP

THREE SCHEMES TO SYNCHRONIZE CHAOTIC FRACTIONAL-ORDER RUCKLIDGE SYSTEMS

The synchronization problem of chaotic fractional-order Rucklidge systems is studied both theoretically and numerically. Three different synchronization schemes based on the Pecora–Carroll principle, the linear feedback control and the bidirectional coupling are proposed to realize chaotic synchronization. It is shown that such schemes can achieve the same aim for the same set of system parameter values (including fractional orders). This provides an alternate choice for applications of fractional-order dynamical systems in engineering fields.