On 9 Mar 2004, Rick Froman wrote: > I have used the following quiz of testwiseness to illustrate common > pitfalls in test writing to my Psych Testing students and colleagues. > I don't remember where I got it but I would be happy to give a proper > attribution if anyone knows. > > Testwise Exam >> > 1. The purpose of the cluss in furmpaling is to remove > a. cluss-prags c. cloughs > b. tremalis d. plumots >
Hey, I may know something about the attribution of this test. It was invented by....Al Gore! No, just kidding. It was really invented by... Kurt Vonnegut! No, actually, its true author is lost in the mists of time (or supply your own cliche), which is what always happens to good stuff posted on the web (Black's Law of Internet Attribution). But I did try to find out once. I retrieved a copy of it on the web posted by Barry Reich who attributed it to Allen M. Schuller of the University of Maryland. I queried Dr. Reich, and he said (back in 2001) that that was the attribution on it when he received it from someone else 15 years earlier. Another lead was provided by Charles Harris, an occasional lurker on this list. He said (back in 1981) that he received it from Joseph Kruskal who got it from Clyde Kruskal, who got it from Jerome Berkowitz of the Courant Institute, but that he never checked with Prof. Berkowitz whether the chain led further back. Incidently, the "Charlie" mentioned in Jean-Marc Perrault's version of this test at http://www.stargazing.net/drsmith/test-taking-A.txt is that same Charles Harris. As for this test itself, I must protest the designation of this as a test of "testwiseness". It's actually a test of how to exploit poorly-written tests when the testee doesn't have a clue. It's more valuable as an illustration of how not to write test questions, which is how Rick Froman says he uses it. The same objection applies to Janda's _Test-Wiseness Scale_ (thanks, Monica, for posting it!) even more, because it apparently purports to be a true test of test-taking skill. But as a test of how good you are at using your course knowledge to get the right answer, it flunks. What a disappointment! I was hoping for questions something like this, which would actually test test-taking skill: The best way of proceeding on a multiple-choice test is to: a) attempt every question, and don't move on to the next until you've satisfactorily answered the previous one b) don't spend more than 20 seconds on each question c) if you find you're having difficulty answering a question, return to it if you have time later d) answer the questions in reverse order e) cheat The correct answer, of course, is e). Note added in proof: I just tried a search on Berkowitz and Courant, and came up with his e-mail address. I think I'll send him a query. Stand by. Stephen ___________________________________________________ Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm _______________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
