USING MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ITEMS to measure different levels of understanding of the same concept:

Many people "bad-mouth" objective testing in general and multiple-choice test items in particular. Few of these critics have any formal education or training in the construction of assessment instruments. Generally, their indictments focus upon and exaggerate what they view as the negative aspects and liabilities of objective testing and emphasize a few ill-defined positive features that they believe other forms of evaluation possess.

1. Which of the following types of memory stores information for only about 30 seconds?

1. short-term
2. long-term
3. intermediate
4. sensory

The above question tests a student's ability to recognize that a specific concept (e.g., STM) is associated with a single, important characteristic (e.g., it only lasts for about 30 seconds). This requires a student to merely memorize a term and a definition that includes its properties.

2. Which of the following is true in regard to STM?
1. information stored in it is coded verbally.
2. it can hold only about 5 to 9 bits of information.
3. information stored in it last only about 30 seconds unless it is rehearsed.
4. all of the above.

The above question measures a student's ability to learn a set of characteristics that are common to a particular concept (e.g., that STM can hold only a certain type and amount of information for only a certain period of time). This requires a more thorough knowledge of a concept than does question #1, but is still based primarily on memorization alone.

3. Joan just looked up a phone number, closed the phone book, and then repeated the number to herself as she was reaching for and dialing the phone. This is a good example of .
1. SM
2. STM
3. LTM
4. none of the above.

This type of question measures a student's ability to apply knowledge to a real-life situation. This requires an understanding of the concept that goes beyond mere memorization of its definition or characteristics.

4. STM is to LTM, as is to .
1. verbal, semantic
2. 30 seconds, relatively permanent
3. 5 to 9, unlimited
4. all of the above

This question measures a student's ability to compare and contrast two concepts (e.g., STM and LTM). This skill is based on, but goes beyond the simpler abilities of memorizing a concept's definition (from question #1) and its set of characteristics (from question #2).

5. Which of the following is the correct sequence of memory stores through which information passes as it is processed by the human memory system?
1. SM ---> STM ---> LTM
2. SM ---> LTM ---> STM
3. STM ---> SM ___> LTM
4. STM ---> LTM ---> SM

A student must learn a chronological/temporal relationship among a series of concepts (e.g., SM, STM, and LTM) to answer this question correctly.

6. Which of the following is the best explanation of why Tom has already forgotten the name of the person to whom he was introduced only 5 minutes ago?
1. The name was never in Tom's STM.
2. The name was lost from Tom's LTM.
3. Tom did not successfully transfer the name from his LTM to his STM.
4. Tom did not successfully transfer the name from his STM to his LTM.

The final question involves all the cognitive skills that were measured in the first five questions, plus it requires a student to integrate knowledge in order to produce a logical decision that is based on a thorough understanding of a concept (e.g., STM) that can be used to explain an example of complex human behavior (e.g., forgetting).