Assess the following test item using the criteria for preparing ...

[asmith134]

Assess the following test item using the criteria for preparing multiple-choice items. Then rewrite the item to make it more effective. (The correct answer is b.)
  Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe primarily as a result of a:
 
  a. inability of the countries to make a decision for themselves.
  b. collapse in the countries' economies.
  c. lack of well-equipped armies to protect the countries.
  d. revolution among the people of all the countries.

Question 2

Of the following, which best describes Roxana's thinking as she planned to begin her lesson by dropping the ice cubes into the two cups of liquid?
 
  a. Roxana wanted to capitalize on the motivating effects of high personal teaching efficacy.
  b. Roxana wanted to capitalize on the motivating effects of learner self-regulation.
  c. Roxana wanted to capitalize in the intrinsically motivating effects of curiosity.
  d. Roxana wanted to capitalize in the intrinsically motivating effects of challenging goals.

[mariahkathleeen]

Answer to Question 1

The following are problems with the item. First, choice a is grammatically inconsistent with the stem. Second, the stem and the correct choice both contain the word collapse, which provides a clue to test-wise students. Third, choice d contains the absolute term all, and fourth, the correct choice is shorter than the distracters.
An example of a more effective item might be:
Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe primarily as a result of a

Answer to Question 2

c

[asmith134]

Thank you

[mariahkathleeen]

No problem