Relationships between learning patterns and attitudes towards two assessment formats

The study examined the relationships between learning patterns and attitudes two ards two assessment formats: open-ended (OE) and multiple-choice (MC), among students in higher education. Sixteen Semantic Differential scales measuring emotional reactions, intellectual reactions and appraisal of each assessment format, along with measures of learning processes, academic self-concept and test anxiety, were administered to 58 students. Results indicated two patterns of relationships between the learning-related variables and the assessment attitudes: high scores on the self-concept measure and on the three measures of learning processes were related to positive attitudes towards the OE format but negative ones towards the MC format; low scores on the test anxiety measures were related to positive attitudes towards the OE format. In addition, significant gender differences emerged with respect to the MC format, with males having more favourable attitudes than females. Results were discussed in light of an adaptive assessment approach.