EFFECT OF NON-FUNCTIONING DISTRACTORS ON DIFFICULTY INDEX OF PHYSIOLOGY MCQ BANK AT REHMAN MEDICAL COLLEGE, PESHAWAR, KP, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are one of the efficient and frequently used tools to assess the knowledge of students. The objectives of MCQs assessment are achieved only if MCQs are constructed appropriately; moreover, the quality of MCQs is assessed through a process of item analysis including content of Non-functioning Distractors (NFD). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the number of Non-Functioning Distractors and Difficulty Indices of MCQs.

Materials & Methods: The study was conducted on the MCQs of Physiology End of Term Examination paper held in June 2015. Manually marked results were entered in MS Excel to assess Difficulty Index (p) & frequency of NFDs. Pearson’s correlation was performed by SPSS 15.0 between Difficulty Indices & NFDs.   

Results: Item analysis revealed 58% MCQs in the average difficult category. The proportion of MCQ containing 0,1,2,3 and 4 NFDs was 26%, 20%, 38%, 14% and 2% respectively. The MCQs with more NFDs showed higher difficulty index.                     

Conclusion: The number of Non-Functioning distractors affects the difficulty indices of MCQs; the more the number of NFDs the easier the MCQs.