title: Student attitudes towards computer-aided testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Computer-aided learning (CAL) is a viable alternative to traditional teaching methods. While CAL is used for teaching only, computer-aided testing (CAT) can be applied as a computer-based examination method. The aim of the present study was to evaluate students' attitude towards CAT as compared to written multiple choice tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one undergraduate dental students underwent a mock examination consisting of 15 written multiple choice questions and 15 questions delivered using the interactive MobiTed® system. A questionnaire based on an eight-item seven-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the students' attitude towards CAT. The students' performance in both tests was analysed using paired t-tests. Correlations between test performance and questionnaire were expressed by Pearson correlation coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite study-design-related differences, students' test performance between written multiple choice and MobiTed® was comparable. No correlations between test results and questionnaire could be set up. Students rated MobiTed® to be equivalent to written multiple choice and had no difficulties with the CAT set up. The pre-defined sequence of questions with each question being shown only once was considered to be a major disadvantage of the CAT system. Complex questions should be displayed longer compared to short questions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-aided testing appeared to be equivalent to written multiple choice tests not only in terms of student performance but also to their perception. This is consistent with previous studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interactive multiple choice tests may provide an alternative to written tests, but should allow examinees to have control over the sequence, as well as the length of time the questions are displayed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glueckstrasse 11, Erlangen, Germany. karl_matthias@web.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graef
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eitner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D008192:Deception; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014956:Writing