Distractors

Distractors are the incorrect options presented alongside the correct answer in multiple-choice items, and, more broadly, any stimuli designed to misdirect attention in experimental tasks. In assessments, a well-crafted distractor is plausible enough to attract respondents who do not know the answer but not so misleading that it becomes obviously wrong. The quality of distractors affects item difficulty and the ability of an item to discriminate between different levels of knowledge.

Construction of effective distractors typically relies on including common misconceptions, errors, or plausible but incorrect ideas drawn from the target population. Each distractor should be mutually exclusive with the others and cover distinct erroneous concepts. They should be linguistically similar to the correct option, roughly same length and complexity, and free of cues that reveal the correct answer. Formats such as “All of the above” or “None of the above” are used selectively, and consistency in style across options helps prevent unintended hints.

Evaluation and refinement often involve item analysis. Analysts examine how frequently each distractor is chosen; ineffective distractors—those rarely selected—may be revised or removed to improve item quality. A strong set of distractors helps lower-ability respondents distinguish among choices and enhances the item’s discrimination. In addition to testing, the term distractor can also refer to stimuli in cognitive experiments used to draw attention away from a target task, thereby measuring processing or attentional effects.