Faculty development programs improve the quality of Multiple Choice Questions items' writing

• DOI: 10.1038/srep09556
• Publication Date: 2015-04-01T10:38:51Z
• Authors: Hamza Mohammad Ab...; Farah Ahmad; Mohammad Irshad; Mahmoud Salah Khalil; Ghadeer Khalid Al...; Sadiqa Syed; Abdulmajeed Abdur...; Norah Alrowais; Shafiul Haque
• Keywords: Multiple choice

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the utility long term faculty development programs (FDPs) in order improve quality multiple choice questions (MCQs) items' writing. This a quasi-experimental study, conducted with newly joined members. MCQ items were analyzed for difficulty index, discriminating reliability, Bloom's cognitive levels, item writing flaws (IWFs) and MCQs' nonfunctioning distractors (NFDs) based test courses respiratory, cardiovascular renal blocks. Significant improvement found index values pre- post-training (p = 0.003). MCQs moderate higher discrimination be more tests all three courses. Easy decreased from 36.7 22.5%. also reported indices 92.1 95.4% after training 0.132). More number level taxonomy (p<0.0001). Also, NFDs IWFs less (p<0.02). written by faculties without participating FDPs are usually low quality. suggests that need active participation as these supportive improving