1Professor, Paediatrics, M.G.M. Medical College, Navi Mumbai, 410 218, India
2Professor, Pharmacology, M.G.M. Medical College, Navi Mumbai, 410 218, India
*Address for correspondence: Nimain C. Mohanthy, Professors of Paediatrics, MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai, India 410218. Email: Nimain.mohanty@gmail.com
Online published on 21 March, 2015.
The study was designed to validate the MCQs used in Graduate examinations in Paediatrics using item analysis.
MCQs and their answers responded by 100 students in each batch appearing for their final MBBS examinations in paediatrics were analysed for 3 consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. Item analysis of each question were undertaken for difficulty index, discriminative index and discrimination effectiveness.
Wide variation in difficulty and discriminative indices were noted, often outside prescribed range, making many of these unsuitable for inclusion in the question bank.
The teaching faculty, question setters and moderators need to be sensitized about its implication
MCQ (Multiple Choice Question), DOPS (Directly Observed Procedural Skills) Question validation, Item analysis, Difficulty index, Discrimination index, Distracter ineffectiveness, Question bank
