Pharmacy Student Performance on Constructed-Response Versus Selected-Response Calculations Questions

Abstract

Objective. To introduce PharmD students to changes in calculations question types (constructed-response versus selected-response questions); measure and compare student performance on constructed-response and selected-response questions in a pharmaceutics course; and collect student feedback on the use of differing question types.Methods A pharmaceutics/pharmaceutical calculations examination was administered that included 15 pairs of questions; each pair consisted of a constructed-response question and a similar selected-response question. An online questionnaire was conducted to collect student feedback.Results. Of the 15 topics, the class scored higher on the constructed-response question for 4 topics and higher on the selected-response question for 10 topics. Eighty percent of the class preferred selected-response questions, although 47.8% felt constructed-response questions better prepared them for a career in healthcare.Conclusions. Students correctly answered more selected-response questions than constructed-response questions and felt more confident in doing so. Additional constructed-response teaching and testing methods should be incorporated into pharmacy education.