Using the Question-Behaviour Effect (QBE) to Increase Examinee Testing Effort

The question-behaviour effect (QBE) refers to the phenomenon in which asking an individual certain questions about their perceived future actions affects those actions. Questioning students about their future behaviour has been shown to influence the subsequent performance of the behaviour. The question-behaviour effect has proven to be an effective tool in student testing. When students are given a set of questions that feature positive self-identity prompts before testing, it can positively impact their test-taking effort, perceived test importance, and test performance. In addition to being effective, giving students a questionnaire prior to testing is an easy and fast method to increase examinee testing efforts. 

Researchers organized a low-stakes online testing environment for university students. The researchers randomly assigned students to one of three QBE conditions: no question prior to completing the test, five questions about intended effort prior to the test that referred to a neutral self-identity, and five questions about intended effort prior to the test that referred to a positive self-identity. The researchers examined the data using multiple indices of test-taking effort, perceived test importance, and test performance. 

Researchers found that asking students about their intended effort prior to testing, referring to a positive self-identity, resulted in higher self-reported effort and perceived test importance. A statistically significant correlation was found between positive questioning and higher perceived test performance. In conclusion, asking students positively about their intended effort prior to testing has testing benefits. Therefore, this is an effective and easy method that teachers could use to increase examinee testing efforts. Examples of how teachers could use this methodology in their classrooms include handing out questionnaires or having a group classroom discussion about perceived performance before testing.