Original Article
Bloom’s Classification and
Psychometric Analysis of Multiple-Choice Questions as Quality Indicators for
Medicine Clerkship Examinations
Albara A. Ahmed1, Mohammed A. Elameen2,
Sahar E. G. Osman3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69993/2024.2.3.en3
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Abstract
Background: Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs) are
commonly used tools familiar to students. They have high covering content,
higher reliability, and higher discriminating ability than other assessment
tools. They offer reliable data about learner knowledge and skills. This study
aimed to classify multiple-choice question items according to Bloom's
classification and analyze difficulty and discrimination indices for clerkship
examinations among first and second batches at Alfajr College for Science and
Technology.
Methods: The study was a descriptive
cross-sectional study conducted at the Medicine program, Alfajr College for
Science and Technology, between March 2021 and January 2023. All
multiple-choice questions included were 617 items for the first and second
batches. The MCQ items were classified according to Bloom's classification
through a checklist. Difficulty and discrimination indices were assessed for
the items among both groups using the optical mark recognition program.
Results: From the total of 617 items there were
278 and 339 items for the first and second batches respectively. According to
simplified Bloom’s taxonomy, there were 164 (49.5%) versus 167 (60%) Recall items,
39 (14%) versus 74 (21.8%) for Understand items, 72 (26%), versus 101
(29.8%) Apply items for the second compared to first batches
respectively. Overall easy items were 240 (38.9%), acceptable items 216 (35%),
ideal items 82 (13.3%), and difficult items 73 (11.8%). Excellent
discriminating items were; 96 (15.6%), good items 107 (17.3%), acceptable items
131 (21.2%), and poor items 277 (44.9%). From a total of 617 items, (10.8%)
were negative discriminator items.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated overall
progression in MCQ items quality, as such improvement in (decrease recall
items, increase understand and application items, decrease easy items, increase
ideal and acceptable difficulty items). Other aspects still need further
improvement to ensure reliable and valid assessment among clerkship
examinations.
Keywords: Bloom's taxonomy, Difficulty,
Discrimination Index, MCQs.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69993/2024.2.3.en3
1
Department of Haematology, Medical Laboratory Science program, Alfajr College
for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
2
Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine program, Alfajr College for Science
and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
3 Department
of Histopathology and Cytology, Medical Laboratory Science program, Alfajr
College for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
*Corresponding Author: Sahar
Elderdiri Gafar Osman, Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Medical
Laboratory Science program. Alfajr College for Science and Technology,
Khartoum, Sudan. Email: sahardirdery@yahoo.com
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