Multiple Choice Questions Versus Very Short Answered Questions in the Evaluation of Students of Veterinary Pathology

Abstract

Background: Well-developed assessment methods have a positive impact on students’ performance, and higher education institutes are usually encouraged to establish and use effective assessment methods that effectively enhance the learning process. Objectives: This study was designed to compare students’ performance in multiple choice questions (MCQs) including best single answer (BSA) and multiple true and false (MTF) types, and very short answer (VSA) questions, and to evaluate gender differences and feedback from students and faculty. Materials and methods: A test containing three different types of questions, BSA, MTF and VSA questions (10 each), was delivered to eight groups of veterinary pathology students (3rd level, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt) in April 2022. Students’ performance, test reliability and gender differences as well as feedback from students and faculty were evaluated. Results: Students did a significant higher performance in BSA and MTF questions compared to VSA questions. The reliability of BSA, MTF and VSA questions between different groups of students were 0.53, 0.52 and 0.13, respectively. Girl students achieved a higher performance in the whole test compared to boy students. Both boy and girl students showed nearly similar performance in BSA and MTF questions. However, girl students got significant higher score in VSA questions compared to boy students. Students’ and faculty opinions were in favor of BSA and MTF questions. Conclusion: Students did much better in MCQs than VSA questions. BSA and MTF questions are preferentially favored by students and faculty.