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Related Experiment Videos

The positive and negative consequences of multiple-choice testing.

Henry L Roediger1, Elizabeth J Marsh

  • 1Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA. roediger@artsci.wustl.edu

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|October 27, 2005
PubMed
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Taking multiple-choice tests can improve knowledge recall but may also create false memories. Prior exposure to incorrect options in multiple-choice questions can hinder learning and lead to inaccurate answers on future tests.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Educational Psychology
  • Learning Sciences

Background:

  • Multiple-choice tests are prevalent in education.
  • Their impact on student knowledge acquisition remains unclear.
  • Potential unintended consequences of this testing format require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of multiple-choice testing on subsequent knowledge recall.
  • To determine if prior exposure to incorrect options (lures) influences learning outcomes.
  • To assess the potential for multiple-choice tests to create "false knowledge".

Main Methods:

  • Participants completed an initial multiple-choice test.
  • A subsequent general knowledge test assessed cued-recall performance.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The study analyzed the relationship between prior testing, lure exposure, and final test performance.

    • Main Results:

    • Prior multiple-choice testing significantly enhanced cued-recall performance.
    • Increased exposure to multiple-choice lures negatively impacted this positive testing effect.
    • Participants were more likely to produce lures as incorrect answers on the final test.

    Conclusions:

    • While multiple-choice tests can aid memory retrieval, they carry risks.
    • Exposure to incorrect answer choices may impede learning and foster misconceptions.
    • Educational strategies should consider the potential for false knowledge creation.