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Response Biases in Multiple-Choice Test Item Files

University of New Haven

Thirty-five files of multiple-choice test items were examined for evidence of biases in the correct answers. Of seven types of biases, the most frequently occurring (24 cases) was the "All of the above" bias in which that answer was correct significantly more than 25% of the time. Another common bias (17 cases) was a tendency for the longest answer to be correct too frequently. Ten cases were also found in which answers of the form "Both A and B" were correct too frequently. Finally, the ABCD bias, in which the probability of each of the four response choices being correct differs from .25, was present in seven files. Three other biases occurred only a few times. It was concluded that authors should take precautions to prevent biases in future item files.

Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 42, No. 2, 437-448 (1982)
DOI: 10.1177/001316448204200206


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