Definition of The Item Analysis

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f. Objective Test

An objective test item is any item that there is only a single predictable correct answer. As stated by Arthur Hughes, ―If no judgment is required on the part of the scorer, then the scoring is subjective, if judgment is called for the scoring is said to be objective‖. 31 From the statements above, the writer conclude that the objective test is a kind of test that require the exact answer, so whether one or another teacher scores the item and even in different occasion the score will be same. 1. Multiple Choice Items James Dean Brown said that are two parts in multiple choice items. The main part is called item stem which is the item at the top. The other is choices that provides some option usually, a, b, c, or d, in choices there are two parts; correct answer that be correct and distractors that be measured as incorrect. 32 The distracter here means that the incorrect options are made to distract poor student who do not know the answer. There are usually four or five alternative available. Only one is correct or best response, and the others are referred to as distracters. Alternatives may consist of number, single world, letter, phrase, and sentences of formulas. It can be used to measure both knowledge outcomes and many types of skills. In addition, it can measure a variety of learning outcomes from simple to complex material. The multiple choices item is concluded in discrete point test. Discrete point test takes language skill a part. Oller states that, ―discrete items attempt to test knowledge of language one bit at a time.‖ 33 It means that language knowledge can be divided into a number or components, such as grammar, vocabulary spelling, punctuation, pronunciation, intonation, and stress. This test only measures the knowledge of language in one particular component. 31 Hughes, op. cit., p. 19. 32 J. D. Brown, op. cit., p. 54. 33 John W. Oller, Language Test at School, London: Longman Group, 1979, p. 37. 17 1. True False True-False item is a type of test item that typically written as statements. In the book, Criterion- Referenced Language Testing, true- false item ―requires student to respond to the language by selecting one of two choices, for instance, between and true and false or between correct and incorrect.‖ 34 In line with that opinion, Norman gives the definition of true-false item as follow: James Dean Brown in his book Testing in Language Program said that there are two problems that teacher should consider in making an item test with this type. a The statement should avoid the use of ambiguities word that will cause the error of the student in choosing. The test maker sometimes construct the test tricky, so that the item seems so difficult even it is for the intermediate or advance language students. b The test maker should also avoid the use of clear clue. By using the clear clue students will answer correctly without knowing the correct response. The clear clues include terms like all, always, absolutely, never, rarely, most, often and so forth. 35 Thus, true false item is useful in measuring the validity of statements, whether it is a fact or an opinion, or recognize it as a definition or principle and the like. Here is example of true-false or alternative response item: Direction: Read each of the following statements. If the statement is true, circle the T. if the statement is false, circle the F. 1. T F The green coloring material in a plant leaf is called Chlorophyll. 2. T F Photosynthesis is the process by which leaves make a plant‘s food. 36 34 J. D. Brown, op. cit., p. 66. 35 J. D. Brown, loc. cit. 36 Groundlund, op. cit., p. 150.