Discriminating power

We can determine item discriminating power by comparing the number of students in the
upper and lower groups who answered the item correctly. There two kinds of
discriminations, positive and negative discrimination. Positive discrimination is when
more students in upper group who answer correctly. Then negative discrimination is
when more students in lower group who answer correctly than upper group. To
determine the level of discriminating power, we can use this formula

𝑅𝑢 − 𝑅𝑙
𝐷 =
1⁄ 𝑇
2

D = the index of discriminating power

Ru = the number in the upper who answer the item correctly
Rl = the number in the lower group who answer the item correctly
½ T = one half of the total number of students included in the item analysis

The discriminating power of an item is reported as a decimal fraction; maximum positive

discriminating power is indicated by an index of 1, 00. It obtained only when all students
in the upper group answer correctly and no one from lower group does. Zero
discriminating power (, 00) is obtained when an equal number of students in each group
answer the item correctly. Negative discriminating power is obtained when more students
in lower group than in the upper group answer correctly.
Result of computation Item discriminating power Quality of item
1,00 Perfect Remained
0, 99- 0, 71 High Remained
0,70 – 0, 40 Moderate Remained
0, 39- 0 Low Revised
Negative Poor Revised