This document discusses different types of test items used in nursing education, including true-false questions and matching exercises. It provides guidelines for writing, constructing, and scoring true-false questions and matching exercises, including their advantages and disadvantages. Sample true-false questions and matching exercises are also presented.

1. © 2013 Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
Chapter 4
True-False
and Matching
&Oermann Gaberson
Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education
4th edition

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Classifying Test Items
♦ By how they are scored
– Objectively, e.g., multiple-choice
– Subjectively, e.g., essay
♦ By type of response
– Selected response, e.g., multiple-choice
– Constructed response, e.g., essay
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True-False
♦ Tests knowledge and recall of facts
– Higher level if rationale for answer is required
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True-False (cont’d)
Advantages
• Efficient
– Can answer many items
in less time
– Can test wide range of
content
• Easy to construct
• Easy to score
Disadvantages
• 50% probability of
guessing correctly
– Per item
– Most students don’t
guess blindly for every
item
– Probability decreases
with number of T-F
items
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Writing True-False Items
♦ Focus on facts or content to be learned
♦ Test knowledge of important information,
not trivia
♦ Test understanding of content, not memorization of
specific word (unless focus is definitions)
♦ Unconditionally true or false
– Cite an authority if relevant
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Writing True-False Items (cont’d)
♦ Avoid words such as “some,” “usually,” “all,” or
“never”
♦ Item should test a single fact or idea
♦ True and false statements should be approximately
the same length
♦ Write equal number or slightly more false than true
statements
♦ Avoid confusing negatives
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Avoid Confusing Negatives
It is not normal for a 2-year-old to demonstrate
hand-preference. (True)
vs.
It is normal for a 2-year-old to demonstrate
hand-preference. (False)
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Sample True-False Items
For each of the following statements, circle T if the
statement is true and F if the statement is false.
T F Type 1 diabetes was formerly called insulin-
dependent diabetes. (T)
T F Hypothyroidism is manifested by lethargy
and fatigue. (T)
T F The most common form of congenital heart
defect in children is tetralogy of Fallot. (F)
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Variations of True-False Format
♦ Correct false statements
♦ Include rationale for responses whether true
or false
♦ Multiple true-false
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Sample Items
If the statement is true, draw a circle around T
and do no more. If the statement is false, draw a
circle around F and underline the word or
phrase that makes it false.
T F Tetany occurs with increased levels
of calcium.
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Answer
Because this statement is false, student
would circle F and underline “increased.”
T F Tetany occurs with increased levels
of calcium.
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Variations of True-False
If the statement is true, draw a circle around T and do
no more. If the statement is false, draw a circle around
F, underline the word or phrase that makes it false, and
write in the blank the word or phrase that would make
it true.
T F Canned soups are high in potassium.
__________
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Answer
Because the statement is false, student would circle F,
underline “potassium,” and write “sodium” in the blank
to make the statement true.
T F Canned soups are high in potassium.
Sodium
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Variations of True-False
If the statement is true, draw a circle around T and do
no more. If the statement is false, draw a circle around
F and circle the correct word from the list that follows
the item.
T F Bradycardia is a heart rate less than 80 beats
per minute.
40, 50, 60, 100
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Variations of True-False
If the statement is true, draw a circle around T and
explain why it is true. If the statement is false, draw a
circle around F and explain why it is false.
T F One purpose of Kegel exercises is to strengthen
the pubococcygeal muscles. (T)
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Matching Exercise
♦ Short lists of similar items to be matched
♦ Usually tests lower cognitive levels
♦ Designed for categories and classifications
♦ Directions should indicate basis for matching
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Matching Exercise (cont’d)
♦ Two columns: premises and responses
♦ Homogeneous content
♦ Columns MUST have unequal numbers
– Avoids giving clue to the final match
♦ Entire exercise on same page
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Matching Exercise (cont’d)
♦ Writing premises
– In the left column
• May be longer phrases
– Numbered as test items
– Arrange in logical order
• Words—alphabetically
• Numbers—chronological
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Matching Exercise (cont’d)
♦ Writing responses
– All responses fit grammatically and logically with
each premise
– Usually shorter than premises—1 word or short
phrase
– Lettered, not numbered
– Arrange in logical order
• Words—alphabetically
• Numbers—chronological
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Sample Matching Exercise
Column A: Column B:
a. Long acting
b. Intermediate acting
c. Short acting
Directions: For each insulin in Column A, identify its
peak action in Column B. Responses in Column B
may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
c 1. Regular
b 2. NPH
a 3. Glargine
a 4. Detemir
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