How Can We Analyze an Exam with Varying Multiple Choice Options?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the analysis of a multiple choice exam that features varying numbers of answer choices per question. Participants explore statistical methods for analyzing the exam as a whole, particularly in the context of differing numbers of choices available for each question.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests analyzing a standard multiple choice exam with uniform choices using a Binomial distribution, specifically Binomial(20, .25).
  • Another participant questions how to analyze the exam when questions have varying numbers of choices, proposing the use of a multinomial distribution and suggesting grouping questions by their number of possible answers.
  • Several posts humorously address a potential misunderstanding in the thread title, indicating a playful engagement with the topic rather than a focus on the statistical analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for analyzing the exam with varying choices. Multiple viewpoints are presented, and the discussion remains open-ended.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the implications of using different statistical models for varying answer choices, and the discussion does not clarify how to handle the complexity introduced by the differing numbers of choices.

WWGD
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If we had a multiple choice exam with , say, 20 questions, with 4 choices for each question, we can analyze it as a Binomial(20, .25). What if instead , some of the questions offered 2,3, 4, etc., choices? Is there a " nice" way of analyzing the exam as a whole?
 
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Is it genitalizing or generalizing? :-p
 
Frabjous said:
Is it genitalizing or generalizing? :-p
I'm almost certain he meant "generalizing." I have changed the title to suit my assumption.
 
Mark44 said:
I'm almost certain he meant "generalizing." I have changed the title to suit my assumption.
It is now a less interesting thread. :cry:
 
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WWGD said:
If we had a multiple choice exam with , say, 20 questions, with 4 choices for each question, we can analyze it as a Binomial(20, .25). What if instead , some of the questions offered 2,3, 4, etc., choices? Is there a " nice" way of analyzing the exam as a whole?
Multinomial distribution? You could group the questions by their number of possible answers.
 
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Frabjous said:
Is it genitalizing or generalizing? :-p
Maybe PFs auto correct is a pervert.
 
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