Misinformation, partial knowledge and guessing in true/false tests

Context  Examiners disagree on whether or not multiple choice and true/false tests should be negatively marked. Much of the debate has been clouded by neglect of the role of misinformation and by vagueness regarding both the specification of test types and ‘partial knowledge’ in relation to guessing. Moreover, variations in risk‐taking in the face of negative marking have too often been treated in absolute terms rather than in relation to the effect of guessing on test unreliability.

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