Attractiveness of Distractors in Multiple-Choice Listening Tests (JLTA 2014 Best Paper of the Year)

Abstract

This study investigates how distractors function in multiple-choice listening tests. ConventionallM each distrac tor is evaluated by its attractiveness. ln other words, distractors that can plausibly be chosen by test talgers are considered to perErorrn well on the test, On the other hand distractDrs that are chosen by few test takers are recognized as perfbrrning poorly Considering that test takers have to choose only one among several options, it can be assumed that some unselected distractors rnay have in fact perfomied adequately Therefore, it is prudent to independently analyze the attractiveriess of distractors. A total of75 Japanese university students evaluated their conlidence in selecting both correct and incorrect answers, The results indicated that (a) the least chosen distiactors were not always the least attractive, fo) less proficient listeners were more lilcely to be allured by distractors, and (c) more Imoficient listeners were more 1ikely to answer with higher