An Evaluation of the "Not-Reached" Response as a Pseudo-distractor

Author(s):

Myers, Charles T.

Publication Year:

1959

Report Number:

RM-59-06

Source:

ETS Research Memorandum

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

12

Subject/Key Words:

Distractors (Tests), Item Analysis, Response Style (Tests), Timed Tests

Abstract

Since the standard deviation of a test equals the negative of the sum of e indices for all distractors, "omit" responses, and "not-reached" responses, we may say that the e value indicates the extent of the contribution of each of these to the spread of scores or to the discriminating power of the test. This suggests a method of evaluating the appropriateness, or usefulness, of the not-reached responses which may lead to an evaluation of the appropriateness of the number of items with respect to the time limit of the test.

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