A Comparison Of Performance Of Radiography Students On Computer Based (electronic Examination) And Written Examinations
[A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI]

CHAPTER FIVE
5.0    DISCUSSION
The result from this study shows that out of the total 171 respondents 63(36.8%) agreed that they prefer PPE to CBE while only 15(8.8%) disagreed and also 75(43.9%) agreed that CBE can not replace the PPE while only 11(6.4%) disagreed. This result is at variance with the findings of Karadeniz (2009) who studied the impact of paper based, web based and mobile based assessment on students’ achievement. A group of 38 students were experimented for 3 weeks. Significant differences were found between the scores achieved by the students in second week but not in first week. The paper revealed that students had positive attitude towards web based and mobile based assessment due to ease of use, comprehensive and instant feedback. Moreover, most favoured tests were web based and the least favoured were paper based.
About 14(8.2%) of the respondents   indicated that Computer systems are slow in proceeding to next questions while time count down is fast as a problem encountered by students in CBE (e-exams). Majority of the respondents pointed out that many questions could be embedded within the CBE and reading such questions from the computer screens could affect their visual acuity and causes head ache and questions begin to appear harder. This result is similar to the findings of Johnson et al. (2004) who did a research that examined the relationship between assessment mode, and students’ perception using Content analysis and the findings of their study was that Questions on computer seems to be harder than if it were to be on paper.
The majority of the respondents 75(43.9%) agree that CBE cannot replace the PPE while only 11(6.4%) disagree to the above statement. This could be as a result of fewer schools teach computer and the cost of purchasing and maintaining a computer is high and the ability to function optimally and free from all forms of virus and trouble shootings is inevitable. Also, computer technicians and engineers also consultants in ICT are expensive to hire.
Majority of the respondents 89(52%) strongly agree that CBE is easier to complete than PPE while 20(11.7%) strongly disagreed. This could be that CBE questions are always structured and mostly closed ended and therefore less typing of answer is done.
About 37(21.6%) of the respondents agree that CBE should be cancelled because is very difficult while the majority 50(29.2%) disagreed. This could be that a good number of students like CBE as an assessment tool but are not comfortable with the conditions attached to writing of e-exams in the department such as negative marking and setting 70 questions and above to be answered within 30-40 minutes thereby making time factor a constraints.
5.1    SUMMARY
1.    The response rate was 100% (171)
2.    About 90 (52.6%) were males and 81 (47.4%) were females
3.    About 87 (50.9%) use computer in the university while 15 (8.8%) do not use computer at all.
4.    About 15 (8.8%) of the students prefer CBE to PPE while the majority 63 (36.8%) of the students do not prefer CBE to PPE
5.    About 73 (42.7%) responded that CBE score is very objective and impartial while 27 (15.8%) strongly disagree
6.    37 (21.6%) responded that CBE should be cancelled because is very difficult while the majority 50 (29.2%) disagreed.
7.    67 (39.2%)    disagree that CBE performance was better than the PPE while only 51 (29.8%) agree
5.2    CONCLUSION
The finding of this study revealed that a good number of medical radiography students like CBE as an assessment tool but the majority prefer PPE to the CBE. Although they welcome the CBE to be used as an assessment tool but suggested that negative marking should be eliminated. Most of the students indicated that performance in CBE is not better than PPE because of time factor during the exams. However, much still need to be done to encourage and make CBE phobia less to the students since CBE is a technological advancement in the department, therefore lecturers should take those courses that may not necessary be in written form to computer centre.
5.3    RECOMMENDATION BASED ON FINDING
The following are the recommendations:
The departments should provide enough computers to be available in the library for those that claim that they lack personal computers and short quiz should be given to students on e-testing.
Lecturers should be sensitized about their changing roles in the conduct of e- examinations. They should be trained and assisted to adapt to new technologies through workshops, seminars etc so as to improve the questions standards and also to include diagrams and other features that will make the exam categorized.
Past question papers of the e-exams should be provided and solved or reviewed by the lecturers to the students at the beginning of every semester for corrections with the students so as to avoid such mistakes from occurring.
5.4    AREA FOR FURTHER STUDY
Assessment of computer knowledge among radiography students
A more comprehensive study should be done to include paramedical students of college of medical sciences, university of Maiduguri.
Assessment of academic performance differences and modes of exams among radiography schools in Nigeria