A Valid and Reliable Instrument for Cognitive Complexity Rating Assignment of Chemistry Exam Items

作者：Knaus Karen; Murphy Kristen; Blecking Anja; Holme Thomas^*

来源：Journal of Chemical Education, 2011, 88(5): 554-560.

DOI：10.1021/ed900070y

• First-Year Undergraduate/General
• Chemical Education Research
• Testing/Assessment

The design and use of a valid and reliable instrument for the assignment of cognitive complexity ratings to chemistry exam items is described in this paper. Use of such an instrument provides a simple method to quantify the cognitive demands of chemistry exam items. Instrument validity was established in two different ways: statistically significant correlations between expert-based cognitive complexity ratings and student performance (as measured through statistical difficulty of items), and statistically significant correlations between expert-based cognitive complexity ratings and student mental effort ratings. Key benefits associated with instrument use include an enhanced understanding of the cognitive complexity of chemistry assessment tasks and as a means for characterizing exam content for the measurement of cognitive development.

• 出版日期2011-5