Some Important Things for Developing Multiple-Choice Items

– on the basis of the results of a survey of experts on item construction –

Abstract

Tests are used for selection and qualification and they have a big effect on individuals and society. Therefore, tests and test items used to construct tests must be appropriately developed.

The aim of this study is to reveal the things that are most important when developing multiple-choice items by taking a survey of experts involved in item construction. There are two parts to this study. In the first study, I compared several item-writing guidelines and asked the experts what they thought about each item in the guidelines, and in the second study, I asked them what the important things for item construction were. The results showed that we do not necessarily have to follow all the guidelines; it depends on the objective of the test. The results also suggested that the important things for developing multiple-choice items were: 1) the items properly reflect the objective of the test. 2) The items properly measure the ability of examinees which item-writers intend to measure. 3) The items are instructive to examinees.