A new H5P content type: Discrete Option Multiple Choice

In 2009, Foster and Miller described their take on multiple choice tests called “Discrete Option Multiple Choice” (DOMC).

Instead of presenting all answer options to choose from at once, the options are shown successively in random. One at a time. For each option, the test taker will have to decide whether it is correct or not. That leaves four possible scenarios for each option:

  1. The option is incorrect, and the test taker marks it as incorrect: The next option will be presented if there are any left.
  2. The option is incorrect, and the test taker marks is as correct: The test taker failed. The test is over.
  3. The option is correct, and the test taker marks is as incorrect: The test taker failed.
  4. The option is correct, and the test taker marks it as correct: The test taker passed. The test is over.

That is quite uncommon. And to make things a little more complicated, even in cases 2, 3 and 4 the test taker is presented another option with a probability of 50 %.

Applying this procedure is supposed to have some benefits compared to “normal” multiple choice tests, e.g.:

  • Certain “test-wiseness” skills do not apply. It is harder to guess correct answers by looking at all the other answer options.
  • Not all options are necessarily given away, so retaking the quiz can make sense.
  • It is more likely that test takers think about each option more thoroughly.

So this could be useful right? Hochschule Hannover sponsored the development of a corresponding content type for H5P!

This is a DOMC quiz with its default settings. Notice that a user will neither see his/her results beyond the score (either 1 or 0) nor an option to view the solution. That’s the default in order to stay close to the “testing” scenario and to encourage retaking the test. As an author, you can also configure the content to show the results in detail and to enable the “Show solution” button if you want to, of course.

As usual, you have a couple of other options that you can tweak. Let’s say, you wanted this to be a little different: show the results, allow to view the solutions, present all of the the options instead of stopping, and don’t hide options that have been answered. Then the previous exercise would look like this:

And as if that was not enough, there’s even one more mode that needs a little explaining. You can decide to ask the test taker to state his/her confidence in her/his answer. According to Barenberg/Dutke (2022), this will help to improve self-reflection, self-assessment, and the ability to recognize one’s own strengths and weaknesses (metacognitive monitoring). For this content type, the confidence will also have an effect on the score. If a test taker states that he/she is only 50 % sure of her/his answer, then he/she will only receive 0.5 points for a correct answer, but an incorrect answer will only lead to a deduction of 0.5 points instead.

No, I do not want to discuss why points are deduced for wrong answers at all. Again. And again. And … 😀

This could then look like this:

Sources

Want to use it already?

I will ask the H5P core team to review the content type. Afterwards, they should release it on the H5P Hub, but this process usually takes some time.

If you want to use the content type right away, look for the Reuse button underneath the content. Use that button to download the demo content, and then upload the .h5p file onto your H5P enabled platform. Please note that you will need to have permission to install H5P libraries. Otherwise, you cannot install the content type this way. In that case, your system admin will need to assist you.

The source code is available as well, if you want to check it before installing or if you want to build the libraries yourself:

Is it available in my language?

In theory: yes! If it’s missing, you can fill in the gaps yourself on translate-h5p.tk.

Any future plans for that content type?

Not really. I was merely a contractor – like an architect that created a building but doesn’t keep working on it once the building is done.  I’ll take care of all the change requests that the H5P core team may have to bring the content type onto the H5P Hub. Additionally, I suppose that I will find time to help you on the H5P forum if you have questions. That’s what I usually do anyway. But if you claim free support or demand features as if it was your right, you’ll most likely get a “no” from me. I may add things, even consider your ideas, but at my own pace – or expect you to toss me some coin. I hope you understand that. Not all do, as I know from bad experience.

11 Replies to “A new H5P content type: Discrete Option Multiple Choice”

  1. Hey Oliver, this is a fascinating approach to changing up the regular multiple choice question. As a student I often prided myself on being able to pass a test where I knew nothing merely from knowing how the questions were constructed.

    But beyond that, it makes the process (even for raspberries) seem more interesting than picking from a list of options. I wish I was doing more H5P work now to have a reason to dabble in this.

    Any word from your client on the success or feedback from the new content type?

    1. Hi Alan!

      Yeah, there are actually tests that can tell you your level of test-wiseness 🙂

      The content type has only been green-lit recently, so even my client doesn’t have experience from practice. But now there is a tool for everyone to gather experience at least 🙂

      The approach itself is not that well known, but there’s some scientific literature about it if you want to dig deeper.

      Best,
      Oliver

  2. Fascinating indeed! Thank you so much Oliver for all you do for the H5P community. Love reading your blog and finding out what the latest creative content types you have put together. I’m planning a e-learning project and your content types will be at the heart of the course design!

      1. Can I ask a question please Oliver…I’m trying to get my head around how H5P works.

        So I want very much to use your Game Map content type and use iframe/html insert on the community platform Circle.so so it shows up in posts. I already tested other H5P content and it works 🙂

        Problem is though, I sent a message to H5P.com to ask about the game map and they said they can’t upload it to their library.

        So do you have any other ideas where I can create my own game map for use on my Circle.so community? What alternatives do I have now that I can’t use H5P.com?

        Thanks for clarifying I really appreciate the help, as I’m a newbie.

        I guess the alternative option I have is the image hotspot but it’s not quite the same as your game map 🙁

  3. I have created a ticket asking H5P Group to review GameMap and to put it on the H5P Hub (thus on H5P.com), but they seem to be quite understaffed and this ticket is yet another one on the large pile of other external contributions. I don’t know when their review queue will get shorter.

    You’ll either have to find some other site that allows you to host H5P content and runs content types that are not on the H5P Hub yet, or you will need to set up your own site with a platform that can host H5P, e. g. WordPress.

    Best,
    Oliver

  4. Hello Oliver, I can’t thank you enough for this excellent content type. Since it isn’t available from H5P Group yet I took the reuse option to download a copy. However, when I use the Lumi desktop app (I’m not sure if you’re associated with it) and try to save as an all-in-one-html document, the selection boxes do not show correctly. All I get is the confidence box but no right or wrong boxes. Is this something you can amend or advise me on please?

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