COMPUTERIZED LONG-MENU QUESTIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS IN COMPUTERIZED ASSESSMENT

To optimally avoid cueing effects and computer scoring problems in com puterized examinations a computerized long-menu question (CLM) was dev eloped. This question type was compared to open-ended questions in one treatment group and to multiple-choice questions in another treatment group. Also, scores were compared to self-perceived computer anxiety of the participants. CLMs yield comparable scores to open-ended questi ons, but the scores differ significantly from those on multiple-choice tests. Correlations in the first comparison (CLMs with multiple-choic e) were higher than those in the second camparison (CLMs with open-end ed questions). The amount of positive and negative cueing was consider ably higher in the first than in the second comparison. Response times of CLMs were higher than those of multiple-choice questions and open- ended questions, differing significantly from both. Computer anxiety d id not influence the mean scores in either comparison. Therefore, in c omputerized testing CLMs seem to offer an acceptable replacement of op en-ended questions.