True or False Items

(binary- choice Items)

Meaning

Alternative choice test in which the student or examinee indicates whether each of several statements is true or false.

-are utilized to assess a student's ability to recognize the accuracy of a declarative statement. Due to the nature of this type of assessment, true-false statements are particularly useful in measuring a student's ability to differentiate between forced-choice statements :

true-false Yes- no

Correct- incorrect

Characteristics of true/false questions

Used to measure ability to identify whether statements of facts, principles, generalizations, relationships, or evaluative statements are correct.

Can be factual or can be a thought question that requires reasoning.

Can be used in most disciplines. Used to quickly poll a class as an

introduction to a discussion or determine knowledge of topic.

Tips for Writing True-False Items:

To be most effective in assessing specific learning objectives, each true-false item should target only one fact at a time and should restrict statements to a single idea.

instructors should include an equivalent number of true and false items within the assessment.

avoid using exact wording from the textbook.

test designers should try to make all true-false items similar in length.

X The true or false items, which is favored by all tests experts ,is also called an

alternative- response item.

The true or false items is also called an alternative- response item.

instructors should make wrong answers more attractive by wording statements in a way that is supported by superficial logic or popular misconception.

avoid absolute words (such as all, always, never) and indefinite adjectives, generalizations, and qualifying terms (such as usually, generally, sometimes).

test designers should use statements that are clearly true or false. When using an opinion-oriented statement, be sure to include the source of the opinion.

Good Example: Dr. Bartels prefers using the Chaos theory to study sciencePoor Example:  Scientific method is the only way of studying science

Good Example: Dr. Bartels prefers using the Chaos theory to study sciencePoor Example:  Scientific method is the only way of studying science

Good Example: The nous form of the verb, when used in a command, means let'sPoor Example:  The nous form of the imperative always means let's 

Instructors should avoid negative statements (especially double-negatives) when writing true-false items. Good Example: Bread and grain are at the bottom of the food pyramid.Poor Example:  Bread and grains are not at the top of the food pyramid.

Advantages

Quite easy to write Easy to score Scoring is objective More information is sampled from a lot of content Effective as either a written or oral assessment. Limits bias due to poor writing and or reading

skills. Useful for questions where there are only two

reasonable answers. Useful in testing misconceptions. Amendable to item analysis. Versatility Reliability Effeciency

Disadvantages

May overestimate learning due to the influence of guessing

Difficult to differentiate between effective difficult items and trick items

Often leads to testing of trivial facts or bits of information

Generally less discriminating than multiple-choice items

May not accurately reflect realistic circumstances in which issues are not absolutely true or false

Often criticized for encouraging rote memorization

Measures only low level of learning - facts, knowledge, comprehension

Need a larger number of items to distinguish stronger and weaker knowledge levels.

Students have a 50 percent chance of being correct, just by chance.

May be perceived as an unfair judgment of learning

Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. 2 points each.

1. The true/false item is also called an alternative-response item.

2. To limit response-bias, test designers should try to make all true-false items similar in length.

3. One of the advantages of true or false item is , it is less discriminating than multiple choice item.

4. One of the disadvantages of true or false item is, it often criticized for encouraging rote memorization.

5. One of the disadvantages of true or false item is, it limits bias due to poor writing and/or reading skills