"None of the above" as a correct and incorrect alternative on a multiple-choice test: implications for the testing effect.
Both positive and negative testing effects have been demonstrated with a variety of materials and paradigms (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006b). The present series of experiments replicate and extend the research of Roediger and Marsh (2005) with the addition of a "none-of-the-above" response option. Participants (n=32 in both experiments) read a set of passages, took an initial multiple-choice test, completed a filler task, and then completed a final cued-recall test (Experiment 1) or multiple-choice test (Experiment 2). Questions were manipulated on the initial multiple-choice test by adding a "none-of-the-above" response alternative (choice "E") that was incorrect ("E" Incorrect) or correct ("E" Correct). The results from both experiments demonstrated that the positive testing effect was negated when the "none-of-the-above" alternative was the correct response on the initial multiple-choice test, but was still present when the "none-of-the-above" alternative was an incorrect response.
Odegard
Timothy N
TN
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington 76019-0528, USA. odegard@uta.edu
Koen
Joshua D
JD
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003463:Cues; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall