Abstract
Background:
The focus of this study was to use a test blueprint to evaluate the cognitive level of test questions. The research question of the study was; can a test blueprint be a useful tool for determining if test questions administered to respiratory care students is equivalent to NBRC cognitive levels?
Methods:
The faculty of the Northern Kentucky University's Respiratory Care program provided twenty examinations from didactic classes for evaluation. A simple percentage was calculated and compared to the percentages of these three categories for both the NBRC's Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) exam at the Certified Respiratory Therapist and Advanced Level.
Results:
The aggregate results showed an average cognitive level for each of the categories as follows: 58.25% recall, 23% application, and 16.5% analysis. These results were compared to the NBRC's published values for each category: 22% recall, 44% application, and 34% analysis for the TMC.
Conclusions:
The comparison demonstrated a need for an evaluation of the cognitive levels of test questions administered to Respiratory Care students. A test blueprint may be one tool that can be used by a Respiratory Care program to assess the cognitive level of examination questions. The NBRC has established standards, for the cognitive levels for Therapist Multiple Choice examinations, by which Respiratory Care program faculty can evaluate the examination questions administered in the faculties' programs. The faculty can then modify, if necessary, the cognitive level of the questions, administered in programmatic examinations, to better prepare these students for the NBRC exams.
Disclosures:
None.
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