Developing Tests and Test Questions/Items

Why do we evaluate students? Motivate students Measure achievement Identify areas for review Check effectiveness of materials, teaching methods, and teacher Differentiate between different levels of achievement Assign grades

Basic Principles of Testing Validity Does the test measure what it is supposed to measure? Does the test require student performance as described by a corresponding objective?

Basic Principles of Testing Reliability Would the test generate the same results if it were given again (assuming no change in students)? Is the test affected by misinterpretation? Poorly written directions or instructions Vague or tricky questions Misleading words Not sure of student response

Agenda Aligning evaluation with level of learning Developing a test blueprint or “table of specifications” Common pitfalls when writing test questions Writing questions at various levels of performance

Defining objectives using Bloom’s Cognitive Taxonomy CATEGORY/level Evaluation Synthesis Analysis Application Comprehension Knowledge SKILL (what students do) Judge Combine Break apart Apply principles Understanding Recall

Sample Verbs for Different Categories/Levels of Cognition Knowledge Cite, define, identify, label, list, match, name, recognize, reproduce, select, state Comprehension Classify, convert, describe, distinguish between, explain, extend, give examples, illustrate, interpret, paraphrase, summarize, translate Application Apply, arrange, compute, construct, demonstrate, discover, modify, operate, predict, prepare, produce, relate, show, solve, use

Sample Verbs continued Analysis Analyze, associate, determine, diagram, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, estimate, infer, order, outline, point out, separate, subdivide Synthesis Combine, compile, compose, construct, create, design, develop, devise, formulate, integrate, modify, organize, plan, propose, rearrange, reorganize, revise, rewrite, tell, write Evaluation Appraise, assess, compare, conclude, contrast, criticize, discriminate, evaluate, judge, justify, support, weigh

Agenda Developing a test blueprint or “table of specifications” Aligning evaluation with level of learning Developing a test blueprint or “table of specifications” Common pitfalls when writing test questions Writing questions at various levels of performance

Developing a Test Blueprint or a Table of Specifications Develop a matrix (much like a rubric) of number of test questions (or percentage of test) by topic and level of objective, and by amount of emphasis on each topic and objective Helps you plan your test Do before writing items

Example Test Blueprint or Table of Specifications Number of Objectives (Amount of Effort*} Adjust Level of Objective Topic A Topic B Topic C Topic D Total Knowledge 1 2 5 (20%) Comprehension 6 (24%) Application Analysis Synthesis* 2 (8%) Evaluation* 1 (4%) *Adjustment factor 6 (24%) 7 (28%) 25 (100%) PAGE 10

Levels of performance Lower levels (knowledge, comprehension, and application) Recognize the principle in altered format. Match component parts with vocabulary. Identify example seen before. Recognize an example never seen before. Solve a problem using familiar format, but different specifics. Higher levels (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) Pick out components of a situation. Problem solve by combining elements. Make judgments of value. PAGE 25

Preparing to write test items Create test items while preparing class lessons. Make note of questions asked frequently by students. Make note of misconceptions made often by students during class or homework. Invite students to submit items at the end of each class or at other times. Adapt questions from formative assessments.

Categories of Test Questions Test items can roughly be broken into Objective (“fixed” or single correct response) True-false Multiple choice Matching Completion or fill-in-the-blank. Subjective (extended response/multiple correct) Short answer and/or Essay Oral test Case Study

Common pitfalls in writing test directions—and avoiding them! Giving unclear directions: “Choose the best answer.” What is meant by “best”? Funniest? Simplest? Cheapest? Easiest? “Choose the correct answer” is a much better statement of directions—and then ensure that there is a single correct answer! Providing unintended cues such as making the correct answer longer than the other options

Writing GOOD test directions Indicate carefully and specifically how students should respond. For example, on a TRUE/FALSE section on a test: Circle “V” for statements that are VERDAD and “F” for statements that are FALSO. Do NOT have students write V or F in a blank. Give point values for items and sections. Allow students to EXPLAIN on any fixed-response (true-false, multiple choice, etc.) item. Providing unintended cues such as making the correct answer longer than the other options

Writing True / False Items for Tests and Exams Can be used to check for knowledge and comprehension. Keep statements simple. Make entirely true or entirely false. Avoid double negative items. In fact, best to avoid negative items.

Common pitfalls in writing true-false test items Using NOT or EXCEPT in the statement Using cues such as “ALWAYS” or “USUALLY” Using unclear, vague terms such as “OFTEN” or “MANY” or “FEW” Using double negatives in a statement Using compound statements with one indpendent clause true and one, false. Providing unintended cues such as making the correct answer longer than the other options

Writing True / False Test Items For each of the statements below, circle “T” if true and circle “F” if false. T F The length of gestation in swine is 33 days. For each of the statements below, circle “T” if true and circle “F” if false. Also, explain in the blank why it is false. __________________________________

Writing multiple choice items for tests and exams Use distractors that are plausible Do NOT use “all of the above” or “none of the above” or “only A and B” or “B and C on alternate Thursdays” as distractors Use 4 or 5 distractors, but use the SAME number of distractors (4 or 5) for all items Vary randomly where you put the correct answer. Allow students to explain! Providing unintended cues such as making the correct answer longer than the other options

Preparing for students who are test-wise to some kinds of items Longest answer “C” as correct answer Process of elimination Use grammatical cues Scientific sounding Avoid simple and obvious Related word Guess by figuring out your pattern Pick the longest answer make sure the longest answer is only correct a part of the time try to make options equal length b. When in doubt pick “c” make sure the correct answer choice letter varies c. Never pick an answer which uses the word ‘always’ or ‘never’ in it make sure this option is correct part of the time or avoid using always and never in the option choices d. If there are two answers which express opposites, pick one or the other and ignore other alternatives sometimes offer opposites when neither is correct or offer two pairs of opposites e. If in doubt, guess use five alternatives instead of three or four to reduce guessing f. Pick the scientific-sounding answer use scientific sounding jargon in wrong answers g. Don’t pick an answer which is too simple or obvious sometimes make the simple, obvious answer the correct one h. Pick a word which you remember was related to the topic when creating the distractors use terminology from the same area of the text as the right answer, but in distractors use those words incorrectly so the wrong answers are definitely wrong

Writing Matching Items for Tests and Exams Appropriate only for knowledge level testing Use a reasonable number of items: 7 – 12 All premises in one list, all responses in another list Premises can be long, but try to keep responses short Use more responses than premises Can approximate fill-in-the-blank items

Writing Clear Directions for Matching Items Write the LETTER of the correct Response in the Blank preceding the numbered premise. ____ 1. List premise ____ 2. List premise ____ 3. List Premise ____ 4. List Premise ____ 5. List Premise ____ 6. List Premise Response

Writing Fill-in-the-Blank or Completion Test Items Most useful for lower order levels of learning Use your own words Try to ensure that only one answer is correct, but, if that is too hard to do, … You may consider “matching” using a word bank Keep all blanks the same length and at END of statement Avoid grammatical clues

Writing Directions for Completion Test Items Complete each statement by writing the correct word(s) in the blank(s) provided. 1. A thermometer should be rinsed in _____________ water. Good or bad item? 2. The letters “N-P-K” in fertilizers stand for, respectively, _____________, _____________, and _____________.

Extended Response Test Items Short answer and/or Essay Oral test Case Study or “Word Problems/Situations” These kinds of test questions require criteria and pre-determined descriptions of levels of performance to be graded reliably and fairly. We call that what?

Short Answer and/or Essay May require many different behaviors: Comparison, for or against, cause and effect, explanation, summary, analysis, describe relationships, apply rules, or discussion

Oral Test All students must receive the same test item stated in a clear, concise manner designed to elicit correct answers arranged in logical order. Determine beforehand how you may lead the students if they stumble.

Case Study Problem should be practical and realistic Requires recall and comprehension of prior information and, if well-written, may require application, analysis, synthesis and/or evaluation of that information “Word problems” are similar to a case study.

Which Type of Question to Use? Select the appropriate technique to test the student competence at the level of cognition required by the objective. Avoid using just one type of test question. We know students have different strengths: Visual Audio Kinesthetic

Materials in this presentation developed in part by… Jason Peake University of Georgia Brian Parr Auburn University Dawn Zimmaro University of Texas Gary Briers Texas A&M University