Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students
BACKGROUND: Owing to its popularity and ubiquity, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are now a commonly used assessment means used in medical education. However, the gender variability in the performance of students in MCQ-based examinations has been a notable topic of exploration in educational rese...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijournalhs.org/article.asp?issn=2542-6214;year=2023;volume=16;issue=2;spage=237;epage=241;aulast=Jamatia |
| _version_ | 1827896126155522048 |
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| author | Elvia Jamatia Binita Goswami Smita Kaushik Bidhan Chandra Koner |
| author_facet | Elvia Jamatia Binita Goswami Smita Kaushik Bidhan Chandra Koner |
| author_sort | Elvia Jamatia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: Owing to its popularity and ubiquity, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are now a commonly used assessment means used in medical education. However, the gender variability in the performance of students in MCQ-based examinations has been a notable topic of exploration in educational research.
AIM: To discern if there are any gender-based differences in the performance as well as the risk-taking tendency in MCQ-based assessment among the 1st year medical students in Biochemistry.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study was carried out on 237 1st year MBBS students as an end-of-module assessment test on “Miscellaneous topics in Biochemistry.” Six different types of formats of MCQs: single best response, multiple responses, true and false, reason assertion, pictorial, and matching types were administered to them. The performances of the students were compared among the different types of MCQs after stratifying the students according to gender and academic standing. The percentages of students who attempted and who correctly marked a particular type of MCQ were compared using appropriate statistical tests.
RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the pattern of scoring, attempt, or skipped questions in between the two genders in any of the six types of MCQs. The difference was observed in the type of MCQ formats preferred and the risk aversion pattern between the two genders.
CONCLUSION: To affirm the gender neutrality and fairness of MCQ-based examinations, all the formats of MCQs must be administered in MCQ-based assessments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:31:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21aa64d821214ae5b3491f826b2d9345 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2542-6214 2542-6222 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:31:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU |
| spelling | doaj.art-21aa64d821214ae5b3491f826b2d93452023-07-21T14:56:27ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU2542-62142542-62222023-01-0116223724110.4103/kleuhsj.kleuhsj_420_22Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS studentsElvia JamatiaBinita GoswamiSmita KaushikBidhan Chandra KonerBACKGROUND: Owing to its popularity and ubiquity, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are now a commonly used assessment means used in medical education. However, the gender variability in the performance of students in MCQ-based examinations has been a notable topic of exploration in educational research. AIM: To discern if there are any gender-based differences in the performance as well as the risk-taking tendency in MCQ-based assessment among the 1st year medical students in Biochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study was carried out on 237 1st year MBBS students as an end-of-module assessment test on “Miscellaneous topics in Biochemistry.” Six different types of formats of MCQs: single best response, multiple responses, true and false, reason assertion, pictorial, and matching types were administered to them. The performances of the students were compared among the different types of MCQs after stratifying the students according to gender and academic standing. The percentages of students who attempted and who correctly marked a particular type of MCQ were compared using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the pattern of scoring, attempt, or skipped questions in between the two genders in any of the six types of MCQs. The difference was observed in the type of MCQ formats preferred and the risk aversion pattern between the two genders. CONCLUSION: To affirm the gender neutrality and fairness of MCQ-based examinations, all the formats of MCQs must be administered in MCQ-based assessments.http://www.ijournalhs.org/article.asp?issn=2542-6214;year=2023;volume=16;issue=2;spage=237;epage=241;aulast=Jamatiabiochemistry assessmentdifficulty indexgender differencerisk-taking aptitude |
| spellingShingle | Elvia Jamatia Binita Goswami Smita Kaushik Bidhan Chandra Koner Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU biochemistry assessment difficulty index gender difference risk-taking aptitude |
| title | Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students |
| title_full | Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students |
| title_fullStr | Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students |
| title_short | Gender variability in performance of multiple-choice question-based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year MBBS students |
| title_sort | gender variability in performance of multiple choice question based assessment on medical biochemistry topics among 1st year mbbs students |
| topic | biochemistry assessment difficulty index gender difference risk-taking aptitude |
| url | http://www.ijournalhs.org/article.asp?issn=2542-6214;year=2023;volume=16;issue=2;spage=237;epage=241;aulast=Jamatia |
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