Evaluation of the Effect of Items’ Format and Type on Psychometric Properties of Sixth Year Pharmacy Students Clinical Clerkship Assessment Items
Background
Examinations are the traditional assessment tools. In addition to measurement of learning, exams are used to guide the improvement of academic programs. The current study attempted to evaluate the quality of assessment items of sixth year clinical clerkships examinations as a function of assessment items format and type/structure and to assess the effect of the number of response choices on the characteristics of MCQs as assessment items.
Methods
A total of 173 assessment items used in the examinations of sixth year clinical clerkships of a PharmD program were included. Items were classified as case based or noncase based and as MCQs or open-ended. The psychometric characteristics of the items were studied as a function of the Bloom’s levels addressed, item format, and number of choices in MCQs.
Results
Items addressing analysis skills were more difficult. No differences were found between case based and noncase based items in terms of their difficulty, with a slightly better discrimination in the latter . Open-ended items were easier, yet more discriminative. MCQs with higher number of options were easier. Open-ended questions were significantly more discriminative in comparison to MCQs as case based items while they were more discriminative as noncase based items.
Conclusion
Item formats, structure, and number of options in MCQs significantly affected the psychometric properties of the studied items. Noncase based items and open-ended items were easier and more discriminative than case based items and MCQs, respectively. Examination items should be prepared considering the above characteristics to improve their psychometric properties and maximize their usefulness.
Posted 19 May, 2020
Received 26 May, 2020
On 14 May, 2020
On 07 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 07 May, 2020
On 06 May, 2020
On 22 Nov, 2019
On 07 Apr, 2020
Received 31 Mar, 2020
On 16 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 13 Mar, 2020
On 20 Feb, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
On 05 Jan, 2020
Received 03 Jan, 2020
Received 26 Dec, 2019
Received 19 Dec, 2019
On 16 Dec, 2019
On 12 Dec, 2019
On 04 Dec, 2019
On 01 Dec, 2019
Invitations sent on 01 Dec, 2019
On 23 Nov, 2019
On 22 Nov, 2019
On 20 Nov, 2019
Evaluation of the Effect of Items’ Format and Type on Psychometric Properties of Sixth Year Pharmacy Students Clinical Clerkship Assessment Items
Posted 19 May, 2020
Received 26 May, 2020
On 14 May, 2020
On 07 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 07 May, 2020
On 06 May, 2020
On 22 Nov, 2019
On 07 Apr, 2020
Received 31 Mar, 2020
On 16 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 13 Mar, 2020
On 20 Feb, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
On 05 Jan, 2020
Received 03 Jan, 2020
Received 26 Dec, 2019
Received 19 Dec, 2019
On 16 Dec, 2019
On 12 Dec, 2019
On 04 Dec, 2019
On 01 Dec, 2019
Invitations sent on 01 Dec, 2019
On 23 Nov, 2019
On 22 Nov, 2019
On 20 Nov, 2019
Background
Examinations are the traditional assessment tools. In addition to measurement of learning, exams are used to guide the improvement of academic programs. The current study attempted to evaluate the quality of assessment items of sixth year clinical clerkships examinations as a function of assessment items format and type/structure and to assess the effect of the number of response choices on the characteristics of MCQs as assessment items.
Methods
A total of 173 assessment items used in the examinations of sixth year clinical clerkships of a PharmD program were included. Items were classified as case based or noncase based and as MCQs or open-ended. The psychometric characteristics of the items were studied as a function of the Bloom’s levels addressed, item format, and number of choices in MCQs.
Results
Items addressing analysis skills were more difficult. No differences were found between case based and noncase based items in terms of their difficulty, with a slightly better discrimination in the latter . Open-ended items were easier, yet more discriminative. MCQs with higher number of options were easier. Open-ended questions were significantly more discriminative in comparison to MCQs as case based items while they were more discriminative as noncase based items.
Conclusion
Item formats, structure, and number of options in MCQs significantly affected the psychometric properties of the studied items. Noncase based items and open-ended items were easier and more discriminative than case based items and MCQs, respectively. Examination items should be prepared considering the above characteristics to improve their psychometric properties and maximize their usefulness.