A REAPPRAISAL OF THE USE OF MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

The terms Multiple True/False and Best Answer deserve wider applicabil ity than at present when discussing multiple choice questions (MCQs). They describe the truthfulness of the choices and distinguish between the question types. The choice which matches the key in a MCQ is best called the correct answer. Multiple True/False questions contain eithe r true (accepted) or false (unaccepted) ideas in the correct answers w hile in the Best Answer type, all choices are true. Using a complex re cording procedure to indicate the selections already made, as in the K -type MCQ, does not assess any additional abilities. Candidates answer ing Multiple True/False MCQs should be asked to respond to each choice as either true or false. This helps to discriminate between those who can detect the falsity of a false choice from those who cannot. When dealing with guessing, examiners need to be cognizant of issues such a s blind guessing and informed guessing, proclivity for risk-taking, ex tension of the marking range and probabilities according to the binomi al distribution.