Consider Item Analysis

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For multiple-choice assessments, item analysis is a powerful tool for evaluating the accuracy and precision of individual questions. Item analysis examines student responses to each question to determine how well the question is functioning. It can provide insights into:

The difficulty level of each question
How well the question discriminates between high and low performers
The effectiveness of the distractors (incorrect answer choices)

By conducting item analysis, educators can identify questions that may be too easy, too difficult, or poorly written. This information can then be used to revise or remove problematic questions, improving the overall quality of the assessment.

Key Components of Item Analysis

Item analysis typically focuses on three main elements:

Item Difficulty: This is determined by the percentage of students who answered the question correctly. A high percentage indicates an easy question, while a low percentage suggests a difficult one.
Item Discrimination: This measures how well the question distinguishes between high and low performers on the overall test. Ideally, students who score well on the test should also answer the question correctly, while those who score poorly should be more likely to choose incorrect answers.
Distractor Analysis: This examines the frequency with which each incorrect answer choice (distractor) is selected. Effective distractors should be chosen by some students, particularly those who perform poorly on the test. If a distractor is rarely selected or is chosen more often than the correct answer, it may need to be revised.

The Canvas learning management system has built-in item analysis functionality, but the process can also be done manually without too much effort. This guide from Penn State University provides a detailed overview of how to conduct item analysis and interpret the results.

Elevate Your Assessment Practices with Compass: Ready to enhance the precision and effectiveness of your multiple-choice assessments? Compass offers specialized workshops and data retreat facilitation to help you master item analysis techniques. Our expert-led sessions can guide you through interpreting item difficulty, discrimination, and distractor analysis, empowering you to create more accurate and insightful assessments. We also offer comprehensive data retreat services, where we can help you and your team dive deep into your assessment data, identifying trends and areas for improvement. Whether you're looking to refine individual questions or transform your entire assessment approach, Compass is here to support your journey towards more precise and informative evaluations. Reach out today to discover how we can help you leverage data to dramatically enhance your assessment practices!