Multiple-Binary Choice Items

Multiple Binary-Choice Items:
This looks like a traditional multiple choice test but there is a cluster of questions that have a "theme". Instead of picking one correct answer the student must answer all of the questions in a cluster.

Here is an example that was given in the book.
I will explain all parts of this cluster. It is much easier to explain when looking at the example. (p.132)

***Suppose that a dozen of your students completed a 10-item multiple-choice test and earned the following number of correct scores:

5,6,7,7,7,7,8,8,8,8,9,10

1. The median for your students' scores is 7.5 - the answer is true
2. The mode for the set of scores is 8.0 - then answer is false
3. The range of the students' scores is 5.0 - the answer is true
4. The median is different than the mean. - the answer is false.

The *** tells the student that this is a new cluster.

The question is the "stem".

Questions 1,2,3 and 4 must all be related to the stem.

To create a deeper level of thinking the teacher may ask the student to support their answer. Why is the false question false? What is the correct answer?

Positives of Multiple-Binary Test Items:

• Students cannot rely on memorized information like they can in a binary test.
• This type of test is more demanding and requires a deeper level of thinking.
• Students can respond to 2 or more items in a cluster in the same amount of time it takes to answer a single item. More items on a test leads to a more reliable test.