Psychiatry

Students will submit two (2) item writing assignments of ten (10) items each. This assignment is designed to be both educational and practical in its intent,
as it involves you writing test questions (items) that are germane to the content you are studying. “Some” of your final exam for this course will be derived
from you and your classmates’ Item writing. In other words, you and your peers are writing some of your own final questions. It is permitted for you to share
your exam questions with your peers if you so choose, as this may serve as a nice supplement to your studies. However, you are by no means required to do
so and there will be no formal, organized means provided by this instructor for you to disseminate this data. Your instructor may take some of the very best
test questions amongst the class and appropriately redact them as needed. Item writing is not easy, and therefore much thought and reflection should be put
into your efforts here, keeping in mind that you are being graded on the quality of your items as described in the rubric below. There is ample evidence that
suggests one of the highest forms of learning and mastery of content processing can be derived from writing test questions covering the material to be
understood. Below is some item writing terminology for your review:
Item – This is colloquially referred to as a test question. In many cases it is not a question, and therefore the more general term item is appropriate.
Stem – This is the initial part of the item that is to be responded to. It refers to everything other than the options/distractors (answer), including things like
reading passages, reference charts, and other prompts.
Prompt/Stimulus – In certain types of assessments, stems often contain a material other than simple question or statement text. For example, an item stem
could contain a reading passage or audio of someone speaking, after which a specific item is presented. It is NOT necessary to include a prompt/stimulus
for our purposes here.
Distractors – For multiple choice or multiple response items, a list of options is presented. These are also called alternatives, choices, incorrect answers, and
options. Every multiple choice item needs incorrect answers. These are intended to distinguish students who know the material and students who do not.
These are distractors as their purpose is to distract lower performing examinees from inadvertently selecting the correct answer.
Key – The key is the option that you have marked as the correct answer. In rare cases where there are multiple correct answers, the key can identify the
MOST CORRECT answer and the one for which examinees should receive credit. Most correct keys should be avoided for our purposes here.
Please take some time to review the following URL to educate yourself on the item writing process before completing this assignment:
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/writing-good-multiple-choice-test-questions/ (Links to an external site.)
Rubric
Item Writing Grading Criteria
Item Writing Grading Criteria
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeKnowledge & Skills
1 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks
Items should measure the examinee’s knowledge and skills in nursing, not in test taking
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent
1 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks
Each item must: •reflect current, proven practice in its specialty (PMHNP) •be relevant in all practice settings and locations •measure knowledge/skills of an
experienced nurse who is new to this specialty •avoid controversial or emerging topics.
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClarity
1 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks
Avoid these problem areas: •Unfocused or verbose stem •Unclear options •Wording repeated across options •More than one correct option •Negatively
phrased stem •Passive voice (“mistakes were made”) •Charged language (e.g., names, gender) •Insider terminology/jargon
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome”Clueing” (avoid clueing)
1 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks
“Clueing” (avoid clueing) Item is giving away answer when: •key is longer or more detailed than distractors •wording in key echoes wording in stem
•distractors do not follow logic/subject of prompt •distractors do not follow syntax in prompt •distractors are blatantly incorrect
0 pts
No Marks
1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStems