The number of alternatives in multiple-choice questions affects learning outcomes
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 82/100
Evidence indicates that altering the number of alternatives or distractors in multiple-choice questions influences psychometric properties such as item difficulty, guessing effects, and distractor efficiency.
Evidence for · 2
On Minimizing Guessing Effects on Multiple‐Choice Items: Superiority of a two solutions and three distractors item format to a one solution and five distractors item format
2010 · cited by 14
Paper [0] demonstrates that changing the number of options and distractors in multiple-choice questions significantly affects item difficulty and susceptibility to guessing.
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More for · 1
Reducing the Number of Distractors in Multiple-Choice Questions: A Randomized Study in Undergraduate Medical Education.
2026 · cited by 0
Paper [9] shows that reducing the number of distractors impacts item characteristics such as distractor efficiency and writing flaws, supporting the role of alternative count in question performance.