TIPS FOR CREATING GOOD EXAM QUESTIONS

• The best exam items are those that test how well people understand the course material. Accordingly, your items should go beyond rote learning, definitions, and terminology.


• Don't submit items that you yourself would regard as picky. Instead, get test takers to apply the material to new situations. Test them on the social and societal implications of the material. Draw novel connections. In short, think BIG and think CREATIVELY.

• Jazzing up items to make them interesting is generally a good strategy, but don't get so carried away that the context becomes distracting or the item turns into a mini-essay. Also, make sure that references to TV characters and current events will be understandable to all test takers.

• Items should be difficult for people who don't know the material, but they should be straightforward for those who do. If an item is difficult because of complicated wording (e.g., double negatives) or vocabulary, you will be testing verbal ability rather than a command of social psychology.

• Ask yourself whether each decoy (i.e., incorrect answer) in a multiple-choice question is: a) plausible enough to be chosen, b) could possibly be argued as correct, c) could stand a reasonable chance of being selected by someone who does not know the material.


• Remember, a decoy item should never, never, never be correct, even under remote circumstances.


• Remember, to get credit your items must be typed (not handwritten) with the answers indicated. You must also have four potential answers for multiple choice questions. You must also indicate what the correct answer is.
  

• Essay Questions must be submitted with answers that would likely receive an A if graded. That is, don't turn in an essay question and then provide a one sentence answer. You must provide an excellent answer for each essay question you turn in.
  

• Questions should be your own work. Do not plagiarize questions from any source. Composing your own questions allows you to think more deeply about the subject matter. This will enable you to do better on the exams.

Note: Perhaps the best advice for this assignment is to print out a copy of this page and check your exam items carefully before turning them in. If you follow the recommendations above, you will have no problem receiving full credit for the assignment.