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K-type questions and the MPJE: Recommendations for evidence-based item reform
1Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, The University of Oklahoma Health Campus, 1110 N Stonewall Ave, CPB 239, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, United States of America.
Introduction:
The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) is the only global pharmacy licensure and certification exam to use K-type questions. Though K-type questions were posited to better measure complex knowledge and abilities versus standard multiple-choice formats, other professional licensure exams removed K-type questions from use because of performance and validity concerns.
Perspective:
Psychometrically, K-type questions are more difficult than multiple choice questions, possess equal discrimination properties, and reduce overall exam reliability. Research suggests K-type questions may provide cluing to benefit low-performing exam takers.
Implications:
K-type questions should be removed from the MPJE and replaced with multiple-choice or multiple-response formats to improve exam scores and reliability. Though until removed, student pharmacists likely require some exposure to this question variant in preparation for the MPJE.
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