Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
09:13
A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test
Published on: May 16, 2017
Multiple choice questions: to guess or not to guess
Medical Education
|January 1, 1976
Summary
The "don't know" option in medical exams can inflate scores and alter student rankings. Exams requiring all questions be answered are preferred to ensure fair assessment of medical knowledge.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Assessment Methods
Background:
- Multiple choice questions (MCQs) with a 'don't know' option are common in medical examinations.
- The impact of the 'don't know' option on student performance and assessment validity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare student performance on MCQs with and without a 'don't know' option.
- To evaluate the effect of the 'don't know' option on the validity of medical examinations.
Main Methods:
- Student performance was analyzed in two conditions: MCQs with a 'don't know' option and MCQs requiring all questions to be answered.
- Rank order changes were assessed based on scores obtained in both conditions.
Main Results:
- Students significantly increased their scores by utilizing the 'don't know' option.
- The rank order of students within the class changed when the 'don't know' option was available.
- Omitted answers can represent varying levels of knowledge, not just complete ignorance.
Conclusions:
- The 'don't know' option in MCQs favors students who are risk-takers or test-wise, potentially compromising assessment validity.
- MCQs that require all questions to be answered are preferable for accurately measuring student achievement in medicine.
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