Lesson 7 Exercise Evaluating Test Items Items 1 through 4 show test items were part of midterm examination of an introductory psychology course. For each item calculate the difficulty and discrimination of the item. Then evaluate and discuss the quality of the item, and what, if anything should be done with the item. The star indicates the correct answer. 1. Item 1 (5 points) The best guide that teachers can use to get a good idea of their students' academic ability is their students' __________________ a. b. c. d. Ethnicity. Grade point average. Socio-economic status. IQ score. a *b Upper 2 16 Group 2. c 1 d 1 Lower Group 1 9 1 9 Total 5 38 2 15 Item 2 (5 points) According to Piaget's theory, which functional invariant includes the processes of assimilation, and accommodation? a. b. c. d. Adaptation Organization Maturation Conservation *a Upper 17 Group b 2 c 1 d 0 Lower Group 10 7 1 2 Total 41 13 3 3 3. Item 3 (5 points) Alan is having trouble in his algebra class. He is just unable to grasp the concept of using letters to represent unknown quantities in equations. In frustration Alan's parents consult the school counselor who suggests that perhaps Alan is just not cognitively ready for algebra, and should take a different course now and try algebra again next year. Which developmental theory would best support the school counselor's recommendation? a. b. c. d. Erikson's theory Vygotsky's theory Piaget's theory Kohlberg's theory a Upper 3 Group 4. b 6 *c 10 d 1 Lower Group 5 6 6 3 Total 12 18 24 6 Item 4 (5 points) According to Kohlberg, what is the basis for making moral judgments? a. b. c. d. Cultural Justice Caring All of the above a 4 *b 6 c 4 d 6 Lower Group 5 8 2 5 Total 14 21 9 16 Upper Group 5. Use the two item characteristics curves shown below to discuss the psychometric characteristics (difficulty and discrimination etc.) of these two test items. (10 points)