Wednesday 6 February 2008

Word Play

Does the way we phrase questions affect student results, read the question below.
Usually I see questions written like the one below ....

Read the paragraph on the left hand side, then answer the question below.
Place the labels shown in the correct order for brain surgery.

Now what I am wondering is if I was to ask the question like

Study the information displayed on the left of the screen, then answer the question below.
Having thought and decided upon the information given, place the labels shown in the correct order that you would use to carry out brain surgey.

Does more direction for the user acheive better or worse results, or do they get in the way and is less more ? Do we encourage more thought or let the user decide that for themselves.

Just a thought ,