Relevance of the Research Question

Not only Shakespeare recognized the relevance and impact of a question. In (E)-assessments, questioning serves as a means for you as an instructor to verify the learning objectives set, while also enabling students to assess their own learning progress. In examination didactics, questions and tasks are also referred to as items.

There are various methods to analyze the suitability of an item for assessing distinct characteristics. A well-known approach is to consider the significance of the content of a task.

Krebs (2001) lists several attributes that define content relevance; according to him, questions are relevant when they:

• check relevant subject areas,
• are frequently used: questions and topics that are commonly utilized or requested,
• incorporate widespread misconceptions,
• are sustainable: if they can be built upon and contain knowledge that serves as a foundation for later learning units,
• can have significant consequences in case of errors