Investigating the validity, reliability and practicality of mock English K.C.P.E objective papers of Nairobi Province-Kenya
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Date
2002-04
Authors
Onsongo, Robert Gekara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This study set out to do Item Analysis of two standard eight English objective mock test
papers of Nairobi Province. This was by comparing mock test papers with the KNEC
. .
National English objective paper 2000 used as the norm. The study investigated these
tests' validity, reliability and practicality. . This was an attempt' aimed at making a
contribution to research on the suitability of test items.
A quantitative research deslgr: of item analysis and a theoretical construct of int!?~rati'-/e,
language testing were used. The two theories were considered appropriate because
the integrative testing approach states that a test item tests not a single linguistic ability
but two or more abilities. Item analysis is a statistical measure through which an item is
investigated to determine' its appropriateness.
The data were collected using three English objective test papers viz: the KNEC English
objective test paper 2000 and the Nairobi Province English objective mock papers of
1998 and 1999. These papers were randomly selected from the many papers 'from the
school file of past papers. The class teacher assured me that they had not been
attempted by the candidates in class.
The study showed that the two mock papers had more defective items than the norm
paper. The defective items made the two mock papers less reliable compared to the
norm paper. On the other hand, the norm paper had more items of 35% facility value
and below compared to the mock papers. Many of these items had zero and/or
negative item discrimination values.
This project is divided into six chapters: chapter one is introduction; chapter two the
theoretical frame work and literature review; chapter three methodology; chapter four
data analysis and presentation; chapter five interpretation and discussion and chapter
six; conclusion and recommendations.
Description
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Arts (applied linguistics) department of English and linguistics Kenyatta University, April, 2002