Computer-Made Versus Handmade Tests in a Mathematical Modeling Course: Effectiveness and Efficiency

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of two test construction methods, one manual and the other computer, using test scores and test construction times from different class sections of a college mathematical modeling course. The statistical test ANOVA was used to calculate the effectiveness and efficiency of computer-made and handmade tests. No significant difference for effectiveness was found between the two test construction methods. Computer-made tests were determined to be as effective as handmade tests. A significant difference for efficiency was found between computer-made and handmade tests. Computer-made tests were determined to be more efficient than handmade tests