Elimination of Distractors: A Construct-irrelevant Strategy? An Investigation of Examinees’ Response Decision Processes in an EFL Multiple-choice Reading Test

Abstract

This paper investigates the use of elimination of distractors strategy by exploring examinees’ response decision processes while answering test items. It aims to evaluate the extent to which examinees’ use of elimination of distractors strategy is construct-irrelevant. As instrument, the paper uses verbal reports in order to elicit response decision processes the selected six respondents used when they eliminated item options in some selected test materials. The results indicate five main patterns of response decision processes respondents used when eliminating distractors. However, of these five patterns, four patterns include response decision processes that can be qualified construct-irrelevant to reading construct; while one pattern included response decision processes that appear to be construct-relevant. This suggests that the use of elimination of distractors is a strategy that can sometimes be construct- relevant.