Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?

Ritu Bajpai; Yogesh Gavali; Charushila Rukadikar

doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

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Online Published: 30 May 2024

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2024; 14(10): 2041-2043

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?

Ritu Bajpai, Yogesh Gavali, Charushila Rukadikar.

Abstract
Background: Modified essay-type questions (MEQs) and multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are important tools in summative assessment for MBBS students in the newly introduced competency-based medical education curriculum. The existing literature suggests that MCQs are better at addressing higher cognitive levels as compared to MEQs.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of MEQs and MCQs in assessing higher cognitive levels. Item writing flaws in the MEQs and MCQs were also studied.

Materials and Methods: 90 MCQs and 50 MEQs (153 stages) of physiology for the academic years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 from different university question papers in India were selected by randomization. Two independent assessors assigned taxonomy levels according to modified Bloom’s taxonomy to the MCQs and MEQs. The Kappa score of agreeability was calculated. The final percentages of MCQs and MEQs at all three levels were calculated.

Results: MEQs assessed Level 3 better than MCQs in both 2019 and 2020 examinations. MCQs were better in assessing Level 2 than MEQs both the years. The most common item-writing flaws were errors in formatting, spelling, and grammar.

Conclusion: Both MEQs and MCQs are equally effective in assessing higher cognitive levels. The majority of questions asked (about 50%) were simple recall types, which need to be addressed.

Key words: Modified Essay Type Questions; Multiple Choice Questions; Summative Assessment; Bloom’s Taxonomy

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Pubmed Style

Bajpai R, Gavali Y, Rukadikar C. Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2024; 14(10): 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Web Style

Bajpai R, Gavali Y, Rukadikar C. Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=201420 [Access: October 03, 2024]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Bajpai R, Gavali Y, Rukadikar C. Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2024; 14(10): 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Bajpai R, Gavali Y, Rukadikar C. Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2024), [cited October 03, 2024]; 14(10): 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Harvard Style

Bajpai, R., Gavali, . Y. & Rukadikar, . C. (2024) Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 14 (10), 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Turabian Style

Bajpai, Ritu, Yogesh Gavali, and Charushila Rukadikar. 2024. Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 14 (10), 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

Chicago Style

Bajpai, Ritu, Yogesh Gavali, and Charushila Rukadikar. "Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 14 (2024), 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Bajpai, Ritu, Yogesh Gavali, and Charushila Rukadikar. "Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 14.10 (2024), 2041-2043. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Bajpai, R., Gavali, . Y. & Rukadikar, . C. (2024) Assessment by modified essay type questions and multiple-choice questions in medical undergraduate students: Which are better in addressing higher cognitive skills?. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 14 (10), 2041-2043. doi:10.5455/njppp.2024.14.05217202419052024

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