Page 331 - DEDU504_EDUCATIONAL_MEASUREMENT_AND_EVALUATION_ENGLISH

Unit 28 : Objective Type Test : Advantages and Limitations

28.3.1 True/False Items Notes

The format of items that represent true-false and allied varieties requires examinees to select the
answer from two alternatives, which remain the same for the whole series of items. These items are
usually in the form of statements (sometimes in question form) and examinees are to make judgment
about their truth or falsity. These items may also take the form of Yes-No, agree-disagree, synonyms-
antonyms, correct-wrong etc. Statement is preceded by a clear direction regarding stipulation of
responses and mode of responding.
Forms of Constant Alternative Items

(a) True-False variety (T/F)
(i) Temperature remaining the same, pressure in a gas varies directly proportional to its volume.
(ii) Star fish belongs to the class Pisces. (T/F)
(b) Right-Wrong variety (R/W)
(i) Chandigarh is the capital of both Haryana and Punjab. (R/W)
(ii) Isosceles triangle has all the three sides equal. (R/W)
(c) Agree-Disagree variety (A/D)
(i) Every religion teaches hatred for other religions. (A/D)
(ii) All religions emphasise the same tenets of good living. (A/D)
(d) Yes-No variety (Yes/No)
(i) Is potato an underground stem ?
(ii) Does a water pump work on the principle of air pressure ? (Yes/No)
Construction of Objective-based True-False Items
It looks easy to frame T/F items, but construction of good T/F items requires insight into their
structure. It involves : (a) selection of good concept. principle proposition; (b) restating the essence
of the idea; (c) finding its implications; (d) couching its anthesis; and (e) writing the item using the
same essential point for one true and one false version.
Observe the following 5 versions of the same idea, principle or concept, reflecting the five steps.

(i) Plants floating in water have abundant stomata in their leaves.
(ii) Water plants with floating leaves have more stomata on the upper surface than on the lower
surface.
(iii) Abundant stomata on the upper surface of the floating leaves are meant to increase transpiration.

(iv) Rate of transpiration in floating leaves is directly proportional to the number of stomata on the
upper side.
(v) If all the stomata on the upper surface of floating leaves of a water plant are smeared with
vaseline, the leaves would rot.
(vi) If all the stomata on the lower surface of floating leaves of a water plant are smeared with
vaseline, the leaves would rot.

If observed carefully the competency tested in these 5 items would vary from ability to recall,
compare, interpret and establish relationship to that of ability to predict. Thus a T-F item can be
constructed to test higher-order objective provided one develops the technique reflected in a-e steps
mentioned above.
Class-room tests show some advantages that they offer simple, direct tests of students’ knowledge,
their efficiency is better in terms of scorable response per hour of testing time, writing of items is

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 325