Some say that multiple-choice questions only measure recall. But, they only measure recall if they are written to measure recall! Well-written multiple-choice questions CAN measure many levels of thought! According to Shrock and Coscarelli (2007), well-written multiple-choice questions ARE written to measure above the recall level.

Berk (1997) and Halaydyna (1997, 2004) explain that assessments must mirror job and real-life tasks. That means, in many cases, that we should measure the thought processes used to perform such as making decisions and solving problems. 

In this session, we'll discuss how to measure the thought processes used on the job with multiple-choice questions. We'll:

• Evaluate the importance of relevant multiple-choice questions.
• Analyze thought processes used on the job.
• Align muptile-choice questions to these thought processes.

This process improves the validity of multiple-choice assessments and better assures the critical linkage between what people need to be able to do and multiple-choice questions to assess them.

Patti Shank PhD is the author of Write Better Multiple-Choice Questions to Assess Learning, Write and Organize for Deeper Learning, Practice and Feedback for Deeper Learning, and Manage Memory for Deeper Learning. She’s an internationally recognized instructional designer, researcher, and learning analyst who makes these tactics clear and actionable in her books and courses.

Books by Patti Shank, Ph.D., CPT