Was There One Distractor Too Many? SAT
- Author(s):
- Wainer, Howard; Wadkins, J.R. Jefferson; Rogers, Alfred M.
- Publication Year:
- 1983
- Report Number:
- RR-83-34
- Source:
- ETS Research Report
- Document Type:
- Report
- Page Count:
- 38
- Subject/Key Words:
- Item Analysis, Rolling Circle Problem, SAT, Test Items, Testing Problems
Abstract
A mathematical item on the SAT—the Rolling Circle Problem — was found to be faulty. This paper reports a detailed investigation into its mathematical and psychometric properties. In addition to examining performance of the item with more than 100,000 examinees, two small studies were performed with the aid of a physical model of the problem. It was found that the problem could be considered ambiguous due to the nonspecification of the frame of reference, but that almost no one noticed this lack. (46pp.)
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- http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.2330-8516.1983.tb00034.x