Multiple choice questions and essay questions in curriculum

Abstract

Purpose

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and essays and short answer questions are the most common assessment protocols instructors use in their classrooms. However, the reliability and validity of these assessment protocols are controversial. The current study employed a survey research design using Qualtrics to determine the faculty and student perspective on using MCQs and essay and short answer questions in their courses as well as their rationale for the preference.

Design/methodology/approach

Eighty-five students and 67 faculty within the social sciences discipline participated in the study.

Findings

65% of the students strongly preferred MCQs over essays and short answer questions. However, faculty did not show a strong preference for one or the other form of assessment (52.30% selected essays and short answer questions, and 47.69% preferred MCQs) in their courses. The study also explores why the students and faculty prefer one form of assessment over the other.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study helped to understand the current assessment practices in a classroom from a faculty and student perspective.

Originality/value

This is one of few studies that evaluated the faculty as well as student perspective on the use of MCQs and essays and short answer questions in the curriculum across the social science discipline.

Citation

Kaipa, R.M. (2021), "Multiple choice questions and essay questions in curriculum", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 16-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-01-2020-0011