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ERIC Number: EJ1391501
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Oct
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0734-2829
EISSN: EISSN-1557-5144
The Features of Plausible but Incorrect Options: Distractor Plausibility in Synonym-Based Vocabulary Tests
Ludewig, Ulrich; Schwerter, Jakob; McElvany, Nele
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, v41 n7 p711-731 Oct 2023
A better understanding of how distractor features influence the plausibility of distractors is essential for an efficient multiple-choice (MC) item construction in educational assessment. The plausibility of distractors has a major influence on the psychometric characteristics of MC items. Our analysis utilizes the nominal categories model to investigate German fourth graders' (N = 924) selection of response options in a German MC Vocabulary test. We used principles from cognitive psychology to identify relevant option features capturing the option's potential to distract students from the correct answer. The results show that only a few option characteristics explain option choice behavior to a large extent. Options with distracting features (i.e., semantic relatedness and orthographic similarity) increase the item difficulty and discrimination, whereas distractors that are less synonym than the attractor decrease item discrimination. Implications for test score interpretations and item construction guidelines are highlighted.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A