Elimination marking is less disadvantageous for risk-averse students than negative marking: experimental and theoretical analysis using prospect theory

The aim of the research is to investigate if "elimination testing" is less disadvantageous for risk-averse students than the widely used negative marking. In order to answer the research questions a double approach was used. Firstly we used an experimental setting and introduced elimination testing in a first year Engineering Science bachelor “Electrical circuits” using a multiple choice exam. Secondly, a theoretical analysis using the theory of “decision making under uncertainty” was used to compare different multiple choice methods and their impact on risk-averse students. The results of the research are that elimination testing is suited for use in multiple choice exams in a technical first year Engineering Science Bachelor course. Students prefer, despite the extra effort needed to complete the exam, elimination testing over negative. Both from the theoretical analysis and from the survey, elimination testing showed to be less advantageous than negative marking for risk-averse studentsstatus: publishe