Test Construction

Purpose

This assignment is designed to provide the MSN student the opportunity to apply Bloom’s revised taxonomy in the development of a test blueprint as well as the construction of test questions. Using the provided information about a course, the MSN student will develop a test blueprint that reflects Bloom’s revised taxonomy at a minimum of four different cognitive levels, including two higher levels. From this test blueprint, the MSN student will then develop multiple choice and alternative formatted test items.

Course Outcomes

Through this assignment, the student will demonstrate the ability to do the following.

CO 1: Apply information related to assessment and evaluation in diverse healthcare and academic settings to foster learning. (PO 1)

CO 2: Incorporate caring, professional values and ethics in the application of assessment and evaluation processes to diverse learning activities. (POs 2, 4)

CO 3: Employ a spirit of inquiry and scholarship to foster professional development regarding the use of assessment and evaluation in diverse healthcare and academic settings. (POs 3, 4)

Due Date: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 3

Students are given the opportunity to request an extension on assignments for emergent situations. Supporting documentation must be submitted to the assigned faculty. If the student’s request is not approved, the assignment is graded and a late penalty is applied as follows:

• Monday = 10% of total possible point reduction
• Tuesday = 20% of total possible point reduction
• Wednesday = 30% of total possible point reduction

If the student’s request is approved, the student will be informed of the revised due date. Should the student fail to meet the revised due date, the assignment is graded and a late penalty is applied as follows:

• Monday = 10% of total possible point reduction
• Tuesday = 20% of total possible point reduction
• Wednesday = 30% of total possible point reduction

Total Points Possible: 220 points

Requirements

Description of the Assignment

For this assignment, the MSN student will use the following course titled “Comfort Care of Adults” and the identified course outcomes.

Course Description: Comfort Care of Adults

Emphasis is on delivery of comfort care to adult clients experiencing acute alterations in health. Students will assess client needs, plan appropriate interventions based on evidence, implement interventions according to accepted standards of nursing care, and evaluate effectiveness of care through an evidence-based nursing framework.

Course Objectives

1. Explains knowledge from the biological and behavioral sciences, and the liberal arts in order to plan nursing care of clients.
2. Applies knowledge of lifespan development, culture, and economic status to provide holistic care to clients with specific alterations in health.
3. Utilizes the nursing process as a framework for decision making in caring for adult clients in acute care settings.
4. Appraises evidence-based practices for incorporation in the plan of care of clients with alterations in health.

Based on the above information, develop a test blueprint for ONE module or unit in the above course. The module or unit can be on a specific disease or process (i.e., respiratory diseases, post-op patients, etc.). As the educator for this module/unit, you will need to select the level of the learner(s) as well as the practice setting. The practice setting can be in either nurse professional development (i.e., mentoring program, continuing education) or a traditional academic setting (i.e., senior-level adult health course; junior-level adult health course).

Criteria for Content

• Description of content area for the module/unit: In this section, the MSN student identifies the content area to be the focus of the module/unit and the test. This section includes the following required elements.
  • Identify the overall content for the module or unit
  • Explain how the identified content is consistent with the course description
  • Identify four specific content areas to be used within the test blueprint
  • Identify the level of the learner who will be completing the module/unit and the test
  • Explain the importance of the selected content area to the learner
• Development of test blueprint: In this section, the MSN student will develop a test blueprint for the module/unit. Please use the Test Blueprint Template located in the Assignment area of NR537. The required sections are noted to be the following.
  • Identify the name of the module/unit that this test is being designed for
  • Identify the total points for the test
  • Identify the points for each test question
  • Identify the four content areas to be placed in the Test Blueprint Template (See Assignment area for the template.)
  • Allot testing points for each content area for the appropriate Comfort Care for Adults course outcome verb
  • Total points for each row and column within the required template
• Development of multiple choice items: In this section, the MSN student will develop multiple choice test items consistent with the cognitive levels of the developed test blueprint. The required sections are noted to be the following.
  • Eight multiple choice items are consistent with the test blueprint cognitive level
  • At least one multiple choice question is developed for EACH Comfort Care for Adults course outcome
  • Identify the cognitive level of the multiple choice item using Bloom’s revised taxonomy
  • Identify the Comfort Care for Adults course outcome and content area that the test item refers to
  • Wording of the STEM is consistent with item writing best practices
  • Wording of distractors are consistent with item writing best practices
• Development of alternative items: In this section, the MSN student will develop alternative test items consistent with the cognitive levels of the developed test blueprint. The required elements for this section are noted to be the following.
  • Four alternative test items are constructed
  • At least two DIFFERENT types of alternative test items are presented
  • Each alternative item is identified as to its item type
  • Each alternative item is identified for its cognitive level using Bloom’s revised taxonomy
  • Identify the course outcome and content area that the test item refers to
  • Wording of the alternative item is consistent with best practices for item writing

Preparing the Assignment

Criteria for Format and Special Instructions

1. When allotting points for each content area to the verb (i.e., column heading), decide which Comfort Care for Adults course outcome verb is most important for the content area and then assign more points. For example, if you think that Comfort Care for Adults course outcome verb #2 is more important than Comfort Care for Adults course outcome verb #1, you would allot more points to Comfort Care for Adults course outcome verb #2. Please note: You do NOT have to allot points to each cell, but there must be points for each course outcome.
2. The test blueprint portion of the assignment must use the template that is provided (see the Assignment section of NR537).
3. Twelve test items must be developed by the MSN student. The items must be consistent with the cognitive level noted in the test blueprint.
4. Of the twelve test questions, eight must be multiple choice questions, each with a stem and four options/distractors. The remaining four items must be alternative test items (i.e., true/false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer, etc.). Within the four alternative test items, two different types of alternative items must be demonstrated.
5. A reference list is not needed unless a citation is provided, which is not expected.
6. Title page, body of paper, and reference page (if needed) must follow APA guidelines as found in the current edition of the manual.
7. Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.