Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2021  |  Volume : 24  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 172--177

The use of excel spread sheet and printer in marking medical science objective questions: An alternative to manual marking method


Raymond Ugochukwu Okolo1, Olorunshola Victor Kolawole2 
1 Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
2 Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Raymond Ugochukwu Okolo
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja
Nigeria

Background: Multiple-choice question (MCQ) is an effective form of written assessments for knowledge acquisition. Optical mark reading scanner is used for grading MCQs. Major setback in the use of scanner is the cost of acquiring it. Consequently, several manual methods such as conference making and stencil overlay are used to mark MCQ. This paper highlights the use of Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and printer to mark MCQ and compares the method with other manual methods of marking. Materials and Methods: Five sets of 100 stems of objective questions (true or false, one in five, and matching types) were administered to students. Answer script was designed using Excel Spreadsheet. Three groups of marking were done: directly on the question paper, use of stencil for marking on the answer script, use of Microsoft Excel soft copy. At the end of the marking process, mean marking time, mean collation time, mean counting time, and mean marking error were collated and compared. The instant computer statistical software was used to calculate means, standard deviations, and ANOVA.A P < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: Results showed a statistically significant low mean marking time of 0.68 h (P < 0.0001) for the spreadsheet/printer marking method. Marking error was significantly low with this method (P < 0.001) as compared with other manual marking methods. The collation time and counting time were not significantly different across the groups. Conclusion: It is concluded that Excel Spreadsheet and printer marking method significantly reduced marking time and marking errors in marking MCQs.


How to cite this article:
Okolo RU, Kolawole OV. The use of excel spread sheet and printer in marking medical science objective questions: An alternative to manual marking method.Sahel Med J 2021;24:172-177


How to cite this URL:
Okolo RU, Kolawole OV. The use of excel spread sheet and printer in marking medical science objective questions: An alternative to manual marking method. Sahel Med J [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];24:172-177
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2021;volume=24;issue=4;spage=172;epage=177;aulast=Okolo;type=0