Abstract:

Internet-based courses are common in higher education as an academic tool for university subjects. Amongst the multiple applications in these web-based courses there is “quiz”, which allows computer-based testing. The aim of this study was to compare the students’ academic achievement using a pen-and-paper assessment and a computer-based test in a Personality Psychology subject. Students conducted two formative assessments, apart from a final summative examination. The first formative assessment was completed in a pen-and-paper format and the second in a computer-based testing format (quiz application). One hundred and six students took both tests. Contrary to our hypotheses, the results showed that the mean marks for the first formative computer-based assessment were slightly, but significantly, lower than the mean marks for the second pen-and-paper formative assessment. However, the time spend marking exams by the lecturers was clearly reduced when the computer-based testing format was used. A replication of the study is required using both examination formats in the two formative assessments, and randomly assign the students to them.

Keywords:

Computer-based testing, pen-and-paper testing, academic achievement.