The Construction of Two Types of Cloze Reading Tests for College Students

Abstract

A machine-scorable multiple-choice cloze test based on college textbooks was administered to 100 sophomores who also took the Cooperative Reading Test, C-2, Form R. Validity coefficients of a long and a short form of the cloze test indicated about 26% of common variance with the comprehension section of the Cooperative Reading Test. Kuder-Richardson-20 reliability coefficients were .88 and .86 on the cloze test. A similar cloze test, but without the multiple-choice format, was constructed and shortened from 300 to 135 items. Elimination of the less effective items diminished both the reliability coefficient from .93 to .83 and the validity coefficient from .52 to .51. Further study of item selection procedures and cross validation was recommended.