3-ALTERNATIVE MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTS - AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION

Traditionally, multiple choice tests have included four or five altern atives. Data from public sector employment tests are presented that in dicate that tests composed of multiple choice items containing three a lternatives have psychometric properties similar to those offered by t ests composed of items containing five alternatives. Given the similar ity of the psychometric properties and the likely reductions in cost o f development and administration time, three-alternative multiple choi ce items may be preferable to five-alternative multiple choice items f or some testing purposes.