Understanding Psychological Processes That Underlie Test Takers' Choices of Constructed Response Items. Law School Admission Council Computerized Testing Report. LSAC Research Report Series.

It has been found repeatedly that when test takers are allowed to choose a subset of constructed response (CR) items to answer on a test, they tend to choose differently and often perform lower on more popularly chosen items. This study investigated the psychological factors that influence test takers choices. Using an experience that incorporated a mini Advanced Placement Chemistry Examination and a related questionnaire, the study reveals a series of psychological processes that consistently influence test takers choice of CR items. Study participants, 618 Hawaiian students, virtually replicated the choice patterns of their 1989 national counterparts. Findings show that students perceptions of item difficulty predicted the choice combinations and choice popularities. Essays perceived as easier were chosen more frequently, even though they might not have been truly easier. Students also tended to associated familiarity with easiness. In addition, test items with contents that reflected similar curricular instruction or exposure tended to be chosen together more often. The findings have implications for CR item pretesting, test construction, and other application possibilities for performance oriented tests. (Contains 4 figures, 4 tables, and 13 references.) (Author/SLD)