Computer Controlled Oral Test Administration: a Method and Example

Abstract

A computer tape recorder interface was designed, which permits automatic oral administration of "true-false" or "multiple-choice" type tests. This paper describes the hardware and control program software which were developed to implement the method on a DEC PDP 11 computer. The method is illustrated by an extended example that describes automatic oral administration of the Minnesota M ultiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Similar concepts may be applied to implement the idea for other computer systems or other tests. The principal advantage of this method is that it does not require an expensive computer terminal. Auxiliary programs may be used for subsequent batch mode test scoring and analysis.