UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
|
|
|
Abstract : |
This study empirically analyzed the item difficulty and discrimination indices of senior school certificate examination SSCE multiple choice biology tests used by West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council in Nigeria. Sample for the study consisted of 1450 Senior Secondary Three students drawn from 20 randomly selected secondary schools. Item by item analysis was used for obtaining difficulty and discrimination indices. Findings from the study showed that 2008 SSCE Biology multiple choice test had mean difficulty index of 0.42 and slightly higher than NECO Biology multiple choice test with mean difficulty index of 0.40 and 2008 SSCE in Biology had a discriminating power of 0.43 and higher than NECO with mean discriminating power of 0.39. It was recommended that 4 option items in multiple choice Biology tests should be encouraged but if 5 options items should be used more attention should be given to psychometric properties of tests. |
References |
1. Abiri, J. O. O. (2006). Elements of evaluation measurement and statistical techniques in education. Ilorin: Library and Publication committee, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. 2. Adewumi, J. O., & Oluokun, O. (2001). Introduction to test and measurement in education. Oyo: Odumatt Press Publishers. 3. Ahmed, M.A. (2002). Analysis of secondary school Biology teachers’ ratings of the difficulty level of concepts in nutrition. Ilorin: Unpublished M. Ed Thesis, University of Ilorin. 4. Ahmed, M.A. (2008). Influence of personality factors on Biology lecturers assessment of difficulty levels of genetics in Nigerian Colleges of Education. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ilorin, Ilorin. 5. Alonge, M.F. (2003). Assessment and examination: The pathways to educational development. Inaugural lecture. University of Ado-Ekiti. 6. Ebel, R.L. (1979). Essential of educational measurement. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 7. Gronlund, N.E. (1981). Measurement and evaluation in teaching, 4th Edition. New York: Macmillian Publishing Co. Inc. 8. Kareem, O. L. (2003). Strategies for teaching Biology concepts: An educational technologists perspectives. Journal of Postgraduate Students Association. (POGSASS). (4), 25-39. 9. Kareem, O. L. (2003). Effects of autographic self – instructional packages on senior secondary school students’ performance in Biology in Ilorin, Nigeria. Ilorin: Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ilorin. 10. Kelly, T.L. (1989). The selection of upper and lower groups for the validation of test items. Journal of Educational Psychology, 30. 11. Kolawole, E. B. (2005). Test and measurement. Lagos: Bolabay Publications. 12. Kolawole, E.B.(2007). A comparative analysis of psychometric properties of two Nigerian examining bodies for senior secondary schools mathematics. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 2(8): 913-915. 13. Lawal, A. (2001). Evaluation of students’ learning outcomes 1: types and uses of tests. In I.O. Abimbola (Ed.). Fundamental Principles and Practice of Instruction. Ilorin: Belodan (Nig) Enterprises & Tunde Babs Printers. 14. National Examinations Council. (2004). Focus about NECO. Minna: Regent Ltd. 15. National Examinations Council (NECO). (2006 – 2009). Regulations and syllabuses for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for candidates in Nigeria. Niger State: National Headquarters Minna. 16. National Examinations Council (NECO). (2007). National Examination Council, Retrieved 20/05/2011 at info@neconigeria.com; service@neconigeria.org. 17. Nuhfer, F.B. (1996). The place of formative evaluations in assessment and ways to reaps their benefits. Denver: University of Colorado. 18. Olatunji, D.S. (2007). Effects of number of options on psychometic properties of multiple choice tests in Economics. Ilorin: Unpublished M.Ed Thesis, University of Ilorin. 19. Osunde, A. (2009). Essay and multiple choice tests: Bridging the gap. Workship Papers on Multiple Choice Test Item Writing Procedures for Academic Staff, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, on Monday 4th Monday, 2009. pp. 14-24. 20. Oyejide, A. P. (1991). Effects of confidence scoring procedures on the psychometric properties of three multiple choice test formats. 21. Parker S.P. (1992). Concise encyclopedia of science and technology (6th Edition). New York; MC Graw-Hill, Companies P 252. 22. Ramons, R.L. and Stern, J. (1993). Item behaviour associated with changes in the number of alternatives in multiple choice. Item Journal of Educational Measurement, 10. 23. Schumacker, R. E. (2005). Class test analysis. London: Applied Measurement Associates. 24. Scriven, M. (1991). The methodology of evaluation. Chicago: R and Mc Nally. 25. Susan, A.N. (2003). Formative evaluation tools for campus conflict resolution and mediation programmes: overview. Denvier: University of Colorado. 26. Tarrant, M; Ware, J and Mohammed, A. M. (2009). An assessment of functioning and non functioning distractors in multiple choice questions. China: A Descriptive Analysis, Department of Nursing Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong. 27. Tessmer, M. (1993). Planning and conduct of formative evaluations. Philadelphia; Kogan. 28. Theodorsson, T; Shafil, K. E; Wardy, N. A; Khan, A, Mahrezi, A. A. and Shafaee, M. A. (2010). Assessments of family doctors in Oman. Getting the questions right preliminary findings of a performance analysis of multiple choice questions. Internet Journal of Medical Education, 1 (1). 29. Thorndike, R. L. and Hagan, E.R. (1978). Measurement and evaluation in psychology and evaluation. 4th Edition. New York: John Willey and Sons. 30. WAEC. (2002). Performance of students’ in the May/June WAEC SSCE Examination, (1995 – 2001). Annual Report, WAEC Press. 31. WAEC Diary. (2004). Brief history of the council. Lagos: Academy Press PLC. 32. WAEC. (2001 – 2007). The West African Senior School certificate examination. The Chief Examiners’ reports for Nigeria. 33. West African Examinations Council (WAEC). (2007). History of WAEC. Retrieved 20/05/2011 at http// www: waecnigeria.org. history.htm. 34. Zafar, M. (2008). Item analysis assumptions (difficulty & discrimination indexes). Assessment Unit Dept. of Medical Education Ext. 47142. |
This material may be protected under Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. |