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ERIC Number: EJ1002056
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0959-4752
EISSN: N/A
Regulating Accuracy on University Tests with the Plurality Option
Higham, Philip A.
Learning and Instruction, v24 p26-36 Apr 2013
A single experiment is reported in which introductory psychology students were administered a multiple-choice test on psychology with either 4 (n = 78) or 5 alternatives (n = 92) prior to any lectures being delivered. Two answers were generated for each question: a small answer consisting of their favorite alternative, and a large answer consisting of all alternatives except for their least favorite one. They also rated confidence of the accuracy of both answers and selected one for grading (plurality option). Replicating previous research, there was evidence of a confidence-accuracy (C-A) dissociation for selected answers. Specifically, accuracy was higher, but confidence was lower, for selected large answers compared to selected small answers. However, unlike previous research, the C-A dissociation was coupled with marked underconfidence for both types of selected answers. The results are discussed in terms of option fixation, the base-rate fallacy, response criteria, and alternative plausibility. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2131
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A