Eco 151 Suggestion Page

Eco 151 Suggestions and Responses

Below are a selection of comments I have received through the online suggestion box along with my responses.
Some comments have been edited for grammar, spelling, and clarity.
Comments are ordered by date received, with the most recent comments first.

3/4/2004

Comments:
I think the test questions shouldn't have many "all of the above" or "a and c only" type answers unless it is completely clear which ones are right. Many of the questions were confusing in that aspect. I would know that one answer was right but unsure of the other and would choose the one answer becuase I knew it was right and then they both would be right and I get screwed. That's my only complaint about the tests. Otherwise I really enjoy the class. Thanks!

I am glad you enjoy the class. Let me respond to your complaint about the test:

If "it is completely clear which ones are right" on a multiple choice question, then it really is a joke of a test question. The point of multiple choice questions is not that one answer is obviously correct and the others are ridiculous or do not make sense. The point is that all answers seem plausible so I can measure who truly knows the material.
"I would know that one answer was right but unsure of the other..." This is exactly what I am trying to measure. A question with "all of the above" or "a and c only" answers are tougher than those without because the ranges of what one must know to answer such a questions correctly is larger than with just four choices, of which only one is correct. So the questions with "all of the above" test whether someone has a more thorough understanding of the topic versus a partial understanding or only a passing familiarity.

Multiple choice questions involve a tradeoff: There is no partial credit, yet the range of possible answers are given to you. If the multiple choice questions are obvious, then I am not really measuring anything.

In the end, over 50% of the class scored above an 80 and 25% of the class scored above a 90. This distribution leads me to believe that the test format is fine the way it is.

3/31/2004

Comment:
Are the homework questions always going to be posted here?

If you mean for the rest of the semester, then yes. After this semester, I do not know how long they will be available