Developing Quality Questions for Various Applications

Abstract

Quality questions enable the nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner to evaluate knowledge, assess critical thinking and obtain data. Best practices have been identified for writing meaningful multiple-choice questions, developing surveys, using audience response systems and asking critical thinking questions. General guidelines for question development regardless of the situation will be discussed in a practical checklist format. Strategies for creating quality stems and options augment the general principles for constructing multiple choice questions. A creative alternative for true false questions, forced choice, will be introduced. Participants will critique and revise questions individually and in small group work. The general principles are used for all situations, but questions are written differently depending on the application or situation. A comparison of best practices for writing questions for computer based learning, competency assessment, evaluation and critical thinking will be made. Techniques for writing higher level questions and correcting common errors will be practiced during partner work. Survey questions, in addition to general principles, emphasize elements related to format, clarity, brevity, and style to increase response rate and obtain usable data. Audience response applications can be used to assess understanding in the moment, get feedback or recognize and anonymously share the participant’s views. Faculty training improves the quality of questions and reduces item writing flaws (Abdulghani et al., 2015, p. 4).