Examining Students' Item Response Times in eTIMSS According to their Proficiency Levels, Self-Confidence and Item Characteristics

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether the time spent answering science and mathematics items by Turkish students participating in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) at the 8th grade level showed a significant difference according to their proficiency levels, self-confidence, and the item characteristics. This study was correlational research to explore the relationship between the variables discussed. A total of 577 students who participated in the TIMSS 2019 study at the 8th grade level in Turkey and answered the common 24 (11 mathematics and 13 science) items in Booklets 1 and 2 constituted the study participants. In the data analysis, the Kruskal Wallis-H test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Latent Class Analysis were used. As a result, it was determined that the type of item and cognitive level had a significant relation to the item response times of students. The students were found to spend more time on open-ended items than multiple-choice items. On the other hand, the time spent on items in the applying level was significantly higher than the knowledge level. However, there was no significant difference between the time spent answering items in the applying level and reasoning level. It was observed that if the students' confidence level in science was high, the rate of correct answers was high, and they answered the items in a short amount of time. Students who were somewhat self-confident in mathematics were more successful in difficult mathematics items and spent less time answering the items.