The Effects of Type of Examination Anticipated on Test Preparation and Performance

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of anticipation of either an objectives combined objective and essays or essay test on students’ study methods and actual performance on both objective and essay examinations. In the first of two experiments-conducted under ordinary classroom conditions-introductory education students were told to anticipate one of the three midterm examination formats. In the second experiment-conducted with language arts students-the preparation period was tightly controlled to permit precise, unobtrusive measures of study methods. In both experiments each analysis of study method variables and various performance criteria revealed no reliable differences between the three treatment groups, suggesting that kind of examination expected did not affect amount or type of preparation, or actual performance on either examination type.