True-false analysis reveals inherent flaws in multiple true-false tests

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dc.contributor.authorThomas, Puthiaparampilen_US
dc.contributor.authorHenry, Rantai Gudumen_US
dc.contributor.authorM., Mizanur Rahmanen_US
dc.contributor.authorRosalia, Saimonen_US
dc.contributor.authorIsabel, Fong Limen_US
dc.date.accessioned2020-05-06T08:50:40Z
dc.date.available2020-05-06T08:50:40Z
dc.date.issued2019-10
dc.description.abstractBackground: Multiple true-false tests (MTF), a component of our assessment system, have consistently generated low scores and many failures. This was attributed to the negative marking scheme. However, no study was conducted to explore the issue further. Item analysis revealed that students omitted false options more frequently and answered them wrongly more frequently than true options. The aim of this study was to determine the performance discrepancy between true and false options of MTF tests and the reasons for such discrepancy and the poor performance of MTF in general.Methods: The student performance of past 7 years of year-3 medicine end-of-posting examinations was analysed. The item analysis reports of 23 MTF tests were used to determine the significance of the differences in omission rates, correct-answer rates and the discrimination index of true and false options.Results: There were statistically significant differences in the omission rates, correct-answer rates and discrimination index values of true and false options. This study revealed that the false options consistently let down student performance. Although negative marking could be partly blamed for the situation, no justification could be found for the use of false options to test knowledge.Conclusions: Some publications endorse MTF, but many highlight its drawbacks. The use of false options in MTF was seen as an inherent defect in this instrument. As viable alternatives like VSAQ and Constructed Response Tests are in the horizon, we conclude that MTF ought to be discarded as an assessment instrument.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Medicine, UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Pathology, UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Community Medicine and Public Health, UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Community Medicine and Public Health, UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationThomas Puthiaparampil, Henry Rantai Gudum, M. Mizanur Rahman, Rosalia Saimon, Isabel Fong Lim. True-false analysis reveals inherent flaws in multiple true-false tests. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. 2019 Oct; 6(10): 4204-4208en_US
dc.identifier.issn2394-6032
dc.identifier.issn2394-6040
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/201769
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherMedip Academyen_US
dc.relation.issuenumber10en_US
dc.relation.volume6en_US
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20194476en_US
dc.subjectMultiple true-false testsen_US
dc.subjectTrue-false analysisen_US
dc.subjectFlaws in MTF testsen_US
dc.titleTrue-false analysis reveals inherent flaws in multiple true-false testsen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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