09-20-2006 Multiple Choice Question Development
Guidelines For True/False, Matching,
and Fill-in Questions
TCH 345 Assessment & Evaluation
Department of Teacher EducationShippensburg University
Han Liu, Ph.D.
True/False
►There is only one simple guideline to follow: Make the item entirely true or false as stated.
Matching
►Matching is complex multiple-choice with a number of stems offered along with a number of responses.
Guidelines for Matching
► Provide clear and concise directions for making the match
► Keep the list of things to be matched short, 10 or less (5-10 items are the norm).
► Keep the list of things to be matched homogeneous
► Keep the list of response options brief in their wording and parallel in construction
► Include more response options than stems and permit students to use response options more than once (This way can avoid guessing)
► Keep the stem and response columns at the same page
Example for Strong Match
► Person….…………….……Achievement► Dates.………….…………..Events► Term…………….………….Definition► Rules…………….………….Examples► Symbols………….………..Concepts► Authors………..………….Book titles► Foreign words…………..English equivalents► Machines……………….…Uses► Plants/Animals………….Classification► Principles………………….Illustration► Objects…………………....Name of objects► Parts………………………..Functions
Matching-Basic Type
States
► ---1. Alabama
► ---2. Arkansas
► ---3. California
► ---4. Colorado
► ---5. Louisiana
Capitals
►A. Baton Rouge
►B. Bismarck
►C. Denver
►D. Little Rock
► E. Madison
► F. Montgomery
►G. Sacramento
►H. Saint Paul
Matching-Three Column Type
States
► ----1. Alabama
► ----2. Arkansas
► ----3. California
► ----4. Colorado
► ----5. Louisiana
Capitals
► A. Baton Rouge
► B. Bismarck
► C. Denver
► D. Little Rock
► E. Madison
► F. Montgomery
► G. Sacramento
► H. Saint Paul
States Flowers
► I. Apple blossom
► II. Blue Columbia
► III. Goldenrod
► IV. Golden poppy
► V. Magnolia
► VI. Camellia
► VII. Violet
► VIII. Zinnia
Choice in Sentence Type
A. Simple sentence
B. Compound sentence
C. Complex sentence
D. Compound – Complex sentence
1. During the winter the days are short and the nights are long.
2. Jane walked to school.
3. John and Ralph left school early.
4. Mama told a story that I have heard of many times from grandpa.
Advantages of Matching
►Good for evaluating ability to make associations and perceive relationships
►Good means of sampling when appropriate bodies of homogeneous materials are available
Guidelines for Filling Blanks
►Ask respondent a question and provide space for an answer.
►Try to stick on one blank per item.
►Don’t let the length of the line to be filled in be a clue as to the length or nature of the correct answer. It could really be a distraction to students.
