Evaluation of Multiple-Choice and Free-Response Formats in English Language Tests: Are They Gender-Biased?
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Date
2001-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The choice as to which mode (s) of assessment to employ in constructing tests and/or
examinations can affect the relative performance of male and female candidates. I t has been
said by scholars that multiple-choice format favours male candidates while free-response
format is to the advantage of female candidates.
The present study was conducted on the basis of the data gathered from 114 (57 male and 57
female) candidates who were made to take multiple-choice and free-response versions of the
same test.
The result of the t-tests conducted to assess whether the difference between the performances
of the male and female candidates on the two versions of the test was stati stically significant
showed that femaletestees, compared with their male counterparts, performed better on the
free-response test than they did on the multiple-choice mode of assessment, whereas the
opposite is true for the male candidates.
Based on the findings, the necessary conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.
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Keywords
Evaluation Multiple-Choice