Educational Psychology

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Multiple Choice Problem (i.e. the

stem) is not clearly stated

problem

New Zealand

a) Is the worlds’ smallest continent

b) Is home to the kangaroo

c) Was settled mainly by colonists from Great Britain

d) Is a dictatorship

This is really a series of true-false items. Because the correct

answer is c) a better version with the problem in the stem is

Much of New Zealand was settled by colonists from

a) Great Britain

b) Spain

c) France

d) Holland

Some of the

alternatives are not

plausible

Who is best known for their work on the development of the

morality of justice.

1. Gerald Ford


2. Vygotsky


3. Maslow


4. Kohlberg

Obviously Gerald Ford is not a plausible alternative.

Irrelevant cues 1. Correct alternative is longer

2. Incorrect alternatives are not grammatically correct
   with the stem


3. Too many correct alternatives are in position “b” or
   “c” making it easier for students to guess. All the options
   (e.g. a, b, c, d) should be used in approximately equal
   frequently (not exact as that also provides clues).

Educational Psychology 252 A Global Text