How to Write True/False Questions

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1. Statements must be unequivocally true or false.
   
   
   • no interpretation, debate allowed
   
   
   
   
   
   • need to qualify which census
     
   • need to vacuum for terminal velocity
     
   • need to qualify uofL rep -- says who?
     
     
   • can turn opinion into absolute true or false

2. Make each item as significant as possible.
   
   
   • absolute statements encourage trivial questions which should be resisted. Do we really care about this fact?
     
     
   • are all the items directly related to the learning objectives and to the intended level of subject matter complexity?

3. Include only one central idea in each statement.
   
   
   • otherwise student may think one statement true, the other false, which to chose?

4. Avoid "specific determiners" --> unintended clue to the answer
   
   
   
   
   
   • sweeping generalizations are almost always false
     
     • always, all, never = false
       
     • possible = true
       
     • reasonable qualifications usually = true

5. Avoid ambiguous terms like "frequently" or "in most cases"
   
   
   • since depends how many exceptions child can remember and judgment of whether that's frequently --> answer becomes arguable

6. Avoid negative and particularly double negative statements.
   
   
   • positive statements only

7. Keep the statement short and use simple language.
   
   
   • otherwise becomes a reading test
     
     
     
     where? soviet union....
     

8. Do not have a pattern in the order of responses.
   
   
   • no alternating true false true false true --> unless you're trying to test for pattern recognition rather than content...
     
     

9. Approximately half the statements should be "false".
   
   
   • half statements should be false, otherwise kids learn to answer true to everything they don't know
     
     
   • not always exactly fifty/fifty or that becomes a pattern they can recognize if you have small enough number.

10. NO TRICK QUESTIONS.
    
    
    • entrapment is illegal in this country...
      
      
    • bully little kids --> of course you can out smart them, that's not what evaluation is about

11. Paraphrase source materials before including them on the test.
    
    
    DO NOT LIFT STATEMENTS DIRECTLY FROM TEXT.
    
    A) Encourages memorization rather than understanding. (Paraphrasing tests understanding).
    
    B) Statements out of context of rest of paragraph become ambiguous
    
    C) copyright problems
    
    

12. Directions to students are clear.

13. Scoring method is clear.
    
    
    • are you doing right minus wrong or what?
      
      
    • need to say even if always do it the same in case one of their other teachers does it some other way

14. Have students circle "true" or "false", rather than write "t" or "f"

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