On the feasibility of multiple matching tests: Variations on a theme by Gulliksen

Abstract

This paper reports a feasibility study of a new test format-multiple matching (MM). Under this format, distractors from several items are pooled into a single list which appears at the end of the test. The examinees are asked to match one correct answer to each of the items in the test. An experiment is described in which the lengths of the item list and the distractor pool were manipulated. It is shown that construction of MM tests is technically feasible and that these tests achieve satisfactory results in terms of reliability, validity, and reduction of random guessing.