Writing Better Multiple Choice Quiz Questions, Part 2

From the Learning Technologies Newsletter

Last month we began looking at how to write better multiple choice questions so that we can most effectively use WebCT’s labor-saving quiz tool in both online and traditional classrooms. Besides the usual one-correct-answer question, instructors can also use the following question types:

• A series of true/false statements
• Omission
• Scenario-based

Standard true/false questions give a student who is merely guessing a 50% chance of earning credit. However, a question with a series of related true/false statements is much more difficult to guess and thus better assesses students’ real knowledge. For example, in the question below, the student must decide the accuracy of each of the four statements:

T F Good multiple choice questions may contain more than one question in the stem.

T F Incorrect answer choices are called distractors.

T F Good multiple choice questions can only have one correct answer.

T F The optimum number of answer choices to a multiple choice question is three.

a. F F T F

b. T F F T

c. F T T F

d. F T F F

(The answer is D.)

When the question asks students to supply an omitted word, the omission should occur toward the middle or end of the stem. For example,

Coconut oil has been long regarded as a contributor to high cholesterol and heart disease, but recent studies of __________ show that this type of coconut oil does not contribute to elevated cholesterol levels or to heart disease.

a. not-from-concentrate coconut oil

b. non-hydrogenated coconut oil

c. cold-pressed coconut oil

d. refined coconut oil

(The answer is B.)

Lastly, scenario-based questions can prompt students to think critically, rather than simply recalling memorized material. For example, after reading the scenario below, students must evaluate which of the four possible answers would have improved the outcome.

After hearing about the benefits of online collaboration for post-secondary students, Professor Hankins decided to implement group work in her online classroom. She placed students in groups and asked each group to discuss five questions on the current topic, the Bill of Rights. Even though she asked specific questions and gave the ending date for the discussion, students complained about this assignment. Based on your reading of recent research, what could she have done to increase students’ satisfaction with this assignment? Select all that apply.

1. She should have first established the benefits of online group work and the transferability of its skills to the workplace, through reading assignments, student research, and discussion.
2. She should have established how many times and on how many different days students had to post.
3. She should have provided a rubric so that students knew what sorts of answers would receive credit.
4. She should have allowed students to choose their own groups.

 

This scenario based question has multiple correct answers: A, B, and C.)

Next month, we’ll post a few other tips for writing multiple choice questions.

QUICK LINKS

Multiple Choice Quiz Questions Part 1

Multiple Choice Quiz Questions Part 3

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