diff --git a/lib/questionlib.php b/lib/questionlib.php
index 2124f8ea420..c640da23c7e 100644
--- a/lib/questionlib.php
+++ b/lib/questionlib.php
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ function get_grade_options() {
     arsort($gradeoptionsfull, SORT_NUMERIC);
 
     // construct return object
-    $grades = new stdClass;
+    $grades = new stdClass();
     $grades->gradeoptions = $gradeoptions;
     $grades->gradeoptionsfull = $gradeoptionsfull;
 
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ function question_delete_course_category($category, $newcategory, $feedback=true
         }
         $DB->set_field('question_categories', 'contextid', $newcontext->id, array('contextid'=>$context->id));
         if ($feedback) {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->oldplace = print_context_name($context);
             $a->newplace = print_context_name($newcontext);
             echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('movedquestionsandcategories', 'question', $a), 'notifysuccess');
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@ function question_make_default_categories($contexts) {
     foreach ($contexts as $key => $context) {
         if (!$exists = $DB->record_exists("question_categories", array('contextid'=>$context->id))) {
             // Otherwise, we need to make one
-            $category = new stdClass;
+            $category = new stdClass();
             $contextname = print_context_name($context, false, true);
             $category->name = get_string('defaultfor', 'question', $contextname);
             $category->info = get_string('defaultinfofor', 'question', $contextname);
@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ function get_import_export_formats($type) {
 */
 function question_default_export_filename($course, $category) {
     // We build a string that is an appropriate name (questions) from the lang pack,
-    // then the corse shortname, then the question category name, then a timestamp. 
+    // then the corse shortname, then the question category name, then a timestamp.
 
     $base = clean_filename(get_string('exportfilename', 'question'));
 
@@ -1484,7 +1484,7 @@ function question_edit_url($context) {
  * Adds question bank setting links to the given navigation node if caps are met.
  *
  * @param navigation_node $navigationnode The navigation node to add the question branch to
- * @param stdClass $context
+ * @param object $context
  * @return navigation_node Returns the question branch that was added
  */
 function question_extend_settings_navigation(navigation_node $navigationnode, $context) {
diff --git a/mod/quiz/attemptlib.php b/mod/quiz/attemptlib.php
index 41e731bfcc4..7ef1a1d3461 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/attemptlib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/attemptlib.php
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ abstract class quiz_nav_panel_base {
             $qnostring = 'questionnonavinfo';
         }
 
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->number = $number;
         $a->attributes = implode(' ', $attributes);
 
diff --git a/mod/quiz/edit.php b/mod/quiz/edit.php
index 366b7b5efec..e6510535468 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/edit.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/edit.php
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ if ($node) {
 echo $OUTPUT->header();
 
 // Initialise the JavaScript.
-$quizeditconfig = new stdClass;
+$quizeditconfig = new stdClass();
 $quizeditconfig->url = $thispageurl->out(true, array('qbanktool' => '0'));
 $quizeditconfig->dialoglisteners = array();
 $numberoflisteners = max(quiz_number_of_pages($quiz->questions), 1);
diff --git a/mod/quiz/editlib.php b/mod/quiz/editlib.php
index b7a9d5119e8..7d2011aff57 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/editlib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/editlib.php
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ function quiz_add_quiz_question($id, $quiz, $page = 0) {
     $DB->set_field('quiz', 'questions', $quiz->questions, array('id' => $quiz->id));
 
     // Add the new question instance.
-    $instance = new stdClass;
+    $instance = new stdClass();
     $instance->quiz = $quiz->id;
     $instance->question = $id;
     $instance->grade = $DB->get_field('question', 'defaultmark', array('id' => $id));
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ function quiz_add_random_questions($quiz, $addonpage, $categoryid, $number, $inc
         $form->defaultmark = 1;
         $form->hidden = 1;
         $form->stamp = make_unique_id_code(); // Set the unique code (not to be changed)
-        $question = new stdClass;
+        $question = new stdClass();
         $question->qtype = 'random';
         $question = question_bank::get_qtype('random')->save_question($question, $form);
         if (!isset($question->id)) {
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ function quiz_print_randomquestion(&$question, &$pageurl, &$quiz, $quiz_qbanktoo
     print_random_option_icon($question);
     echo ' ' . get_string('randomfromcategory', 'quiz') . '</div>';
 
-    $a = new stdClass;
+    $a = new stdClass();
     $a->arrow = $OUTPUT->rarrow();
     $strshowcategorycontents = get_string('showcategorycontents', 'quiz', $a);
 
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ function quiz_print_randomquestion(&$question, &$pageurl, &$quiz, $quiz_qbanktoo
         echo '<br />';
 
         // Embed the link into the string with instructions
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->catname = '<strong>' . $category->name . '</strong>';
         $a->link = $linkcategorycontents;
         echo get_string('addnewquestionsqbank', 'quiz', $a);
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ function quiz_question_tostring(&$question, $showicon = false, $showquestiontext
     }
     $result .= shorten_text(format_string($question->name), 200) . '</span>';
     if ($showquestiontext) {
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
         $questiontext = strip_tags(format_text($question->questiontext,
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ class quiz_question_bank_view extends question_bank_view {
     }
 
     protected function print_category_info($category) {
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $strcategory = get_string('category', 'quiz');
         echo '<div class="categoryinfo"><div class="categorynamefieldcontainer">' .
diff --git a/mod/quiz/index.php b/mod/quiz/index.php
index bfe542514f6..b679a885fcb 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/index.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/index.php
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ foreach ($quizzes as $quiz) {
         $feedback = '';
         if ($quiz->grade && array_key_exists($quiz->id, grades)) {
             if ($alloptions->marks) {
-                $a = new stdClass;
+                $a = new stdClass();
                 $a->grade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $grades[$quiz->id]);
                 $a->maxgrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $quiz->grade);
                 $grade = get_string('outofshort', 'quiz', $a);
diff --git a/mod/quiz/lib.php b/mod/quiz/lib.php
index 0fd03e8ceb2..9f6c807f937 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/lib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/lib.php
@@ -300,8 +300,6 @@ function quiz_update_effective_access($quiz, $userid) {
 /**
  * Delete all the attempts belonging to a quiz.
  *
- * @global stdClass
- * @global object
  * @param object $quiz The quiz object.
  */
 function quiz_delete_all_attempts($quiz) {
@@ -370,7 +368,7 @@ function quiz_user_outline($course, $user, $mod, $quiz) {
         $grade = reset($grades->items[0]->grades);
     }
 
-    $result = new stdClass;
+    $result = new stdClass();
     $result->info = get_string('grade') . ': ' . $grade->str_long_grade;
     $result->time = $grade->dategraded;
     return $result;
@@ -802,7 +800,7 @@ function quiz_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart,
 
         $options = quiz_get_review_options($quiz, $attempt, $context);
 
-        $tmpactivity = new stdClass;
+        $tmpactivity = new stdClass();
 
         $tmpactivity->type       = 'quiz';
         $tmpactivity->cmid       = $cm->id;
@@ -1003,7 +1001,7 @@ function quiz_after_add_or_update($quiz) {
     $DB->delete_records('quiz_feedback', array('quizid' => $quiz->id));
 
     for ($i = 0; $i <= $quiz->feedbackboundarycount; $i++) {
-        $feedback = new stdClass;
+        $feedback = new stdClass();
         $feedback->quizid = $quiz->id;
         $feedback->feedbacktext = $quiz->feedbacktext[$i]['text'];
         $feedback->feedbacktextformat = $quiz->feedbacktext[$i]['format'];
@@ -1049,7 +1047,7 @@ function quiz_update_events($quiz, $override = null) {
         // need to add all the overrides
         $overrides = $DB->get_records('quiz_overrides', array('quiz' => $quiz->id));
         // as well as the original quiz (empty override)
-        $overrides[] = new stdClass;
+        $overrides[] = new stdClass();
     }
     else {
         // Just do the one override
@@ -1066,7 +1064,7 @@ function quiz_update_events($quiz, $override = null) {
         $addopen  = empty($current->id) || !empty($current->timeopen);
         $addclose = empty($current->id) || !empty($current->timeclose);
 
-        $event = new stdClass;
+        $event = new stdClass();
         $event->description = $quiz->intro;
         $event->courseid    = ($userid) ? 0 : $quiz->course; // Events module won't show user events when the courseid is nonzero
         $event->groupid     = $groupid;
@@ -1080,7 +1078,7 @@ function quiz_update_events($quiz, $override = null) {
 
         // Determine the event name
         if ($groupid) {
-            $params = new stdClass;
+            $params = new stdClass();
             $params->quiz = $quiz->name;
             $params->group = groups_get_group_name($groupid);
             if ($params->group === false) {
@@ -1090,7 +1088,7 @@ function quiz_update_events($quiz, $override = null) {
             $eventname = get_string('overridegroupeventname', 'quiz', $params);
         }
         else if ($userid) {
-            $params = new stdClass;
+            $params = new stdClass();
             $params->quiz = $quiz->name;
             $eventname = get_string('overrideusereventname', 'quiz', $params);
         } else {
@@ -1460,8 +1458,6 @@ function quiz_supports($feature) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @global object
- * @global stdClass
  * @return array all other caps used in module
  */
 function quiz_get_extra_capabilities() {
@@ -1479,9 +1475,9 @@ function quiz_get_extra_capabilities() {
  * available
  *
  * @param navigation_node $quiznode The quiz node within the global navigation
- * @param stdClass $course The course object returned from the DB
- * @param stdClass $module The module object returned from the DB
- * @param stdClass $cm The course module instance returned from the DB
+ * @param object $course The course object returned from the DB
+ * @param object $module The module object returned from the DB
+ * @param object $cm The course module instance returned from the DB
  */
 function quiz_extend_navigation($quiznode, $course, $module, $cm) {
     global $CFG;
diff --git a/mod/quiz/locallib.php b/mod/quiz/locallib.php
index 45ef5ec66dd..824da5d3858 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/locallib.php
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function quiz_create_attempt($quiz, $attemptnumber, $lastattempt, $timenow, $isp
 
     if ($attemptnumber == 1 || !$quiz->attemptonlast) {
     /// We are not building on last attempt so create a new attempt.
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->quiz = $quiz->id;
         $attempt->userid = $USER->id;
         $attempt->preview = 0;
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ function quiz_feedback_for_grade($grade, $quiz, $context) {
     }
 
     // Clean the text, ready for display.
-    $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+    $formatoptions = new stdClass();
     $formatoptions->noclean = true;
     $feedbacktext = file_rewrite_pluginfile_urls($feedback->feedbacktext, 'pluginfile.php', $context->id, 'mod_quiz', 'feedback', $feedback->id);
     $feedbacktext = format_text($feedbacktext, $feedback->feedbacktextformat, $formatoptions);
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ function quiz_update_all_final_grades($quiz) {
             $todelete[] = $changedgrade->userid;
 
         } else if (is_null($changedgrade->grade)) {
-            $toinsert = new stdClass;
+            $toinsert = new stdClass();
             $toinsert->quiz = $quiz->id;
             $toinsert->userid = $changedgrade->userid;
             $toinsert->timemodified = $timenow;
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ function quiz_update_all_final_grades($quiz) {
             $DB->insert_record('quiz_grades', $toinsert);
 
         } else {
-            $toupdate = new stdClass;
+            $toupdate = new stdClass();
             $toupdate->id = $changedgrade->id;
             $toupdate->grade = $changedgrade->newgrade;
             $toupdate->timemodified = $timenow;
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ function quiz_upgrade_states($attempt) {
     // Actually we only do this for states whose question is actually listed in $attempt->layout.
     // We do not do it for states associated to wrapped questions like for example the questions
     // used by a RANDOM question
-    $session = new stdClass;
+    $session = new stdClass();
     $session->attemptid = $attempt->uniqueid;
     $questionlist = quiz_questions_in_quiz($attempt->layout);
     $params = array($attempt->uniqueid);
@@ -1075,8 +1075,8 @@ function quiz_get_review_options($quiz, $attempt, $context) {
  */
 function quiz_get_combined_reviewoptions($quiz, $attempts) {
     $fields = array('marks', 'feedback', 'generalfeedback', 'rightanswer', 'overallfeedback');
-    $someoptions = new stdClass;
-    $alloptions = new stdClass;
+    $someoptions = new stdClass();
+    $alloptions = new stdClass();
     foreach ($fields as $field) {
         $someoptions->$field = false;
         $alloptions->$field = true;
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ function quiz_get_slot_for_question($quiz, $questionid) {
 /**
  * Sends confirmation email to the student taking the course
  *
- * @param stdClass $a associative array of replaceable fields for the templates
+ * @param object $a associative array of replaceable fields for the templates
  *
  * @return bool|string result of events_triger
  */
@@ -1205,7 +1205,7 @@ function quiz_send_confirmation($a) {
  * Sends notification messages to the interested parties that assign the role capability
  *
  * @param object $recipient user object of the intended recipient
- * @param stdClass $a associative array of replaceable fields for the templates
+ * @param object $a associative array of replaceable fields for the templates
  *
  * @return bool|string result of events_triger()
  */
@@ -1293,7 +1293,7 @@ function quiz_send_notification_emails($course, $quiz, $attempt, $context, $cm)
 
     // if something to send, then build $a
     if (! empty($userstonotify) or $sendconfirm) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         // course info
         $a->coursename = $course->fullname;
         $a->courseshortname = $course->shortname;
@@ -1407,7 +1407,7 @@ class mod_quiz_display_options extends question_display_options {
 
     /**
      * Set up the various options from the quiz settings, and a time constant.
-     * @param stdClass $quiz the quiz settings.
+     * @param object $quiz the quiz settings.
      * @param integer $one of the {@link DURING}, {@link IMMEDIATELY_AFTER},
      * {@link LATER_WHILE_OPEN} or {@link AFTER_CLOSE} constants.
      * @return mod_quiz_display_options set up appropriately.
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/grading/report.php b/mod/quiz/report/grading/report.php
index 23d6c349205..8c6a5eb28bf 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/grading/report.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/grading/report.php
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ class quiz_grading_report extends quiz_default_report {
         $mform = new quiz_grading_settings($hidden, $counts, $shownames, $showidnumbers);
 
         // Tell the form the current settings.
-        $settings = new stdClass;
+        $settings = new stdClass();
         $settings->grade = $grade;
         $settings->pagesize = $pagesize;
         $settings->order = $order;
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ class quiz_grading_report extends quiz_default_report {
         // Print the heading and form.
         echo question_engine::initialise_js();
 
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->number = $this->questions[$slot]->number;
         $a->questionname = format_string($counts->name);
         echo $OUTPUT->heading(get_string('gradingquestionx', 'quiz_grading', $a));
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ class quiz_grading_report extends quiz_default_report {
         $mform->display();
 
         // Paging info.
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->from = $page * $pagesize + 1;
         $a->to = min(($page + 1) * $pagesize, $count);
         $a->of = $count;
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class quiz_grading_report extends quiz_default_report {
     }
 
     protected function get_question_heading($attempt, $shownames, $showidnumbers) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->attempt = $attempt->attempt;
         $a->fullname = fullname($attempt);
         $a->idnumber = $attempt->idnumber;
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/overview/overview_table.php b/mod/quiz/report/overview/overview_table.php
index bfe097256a6..197eb9a0e71 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/overview/overview_table.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/overview/overview_table.php
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class quiz_report_overview_table extends quiz_attempt_report_table {
                 $record = $gradeaverages[$question->slot];
                 $record->grade = quiz_rescale_grade($record->averagefraction * $question->maxmark, $this->quiz, false);
             } else {
-                $record = new stdClass;
+                $record = new stdClass();
                 $record->grade = null;
                 $record->numaveraged = null;
             }
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/overview/report.php b/mod/quiz/report/overview/report.php
index b28f92fd14f..924261ac7cd 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/overview/report.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/overview/report.php
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ class quiz_overview_report extends quiz_attempt_report {
 
         $finished = $attempt->timefinish > 0;
         foreach ($slots as $slot) {
-            $qqr = new stdClass;
+            $qqr = new stdClass();
             $qqr->oldfraction = $quba->get_question_fraction($slot);
 
             $quba->regrade_question($slot, $finished);
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/reportlib.php b/mod/quiz/report/reportlib.php
index 31389d466ec..bb3dc966527 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/reportlib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/reportlib.php
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function quiz_report_unindex($datum) {
 /**
  * Get the slots of real questions (not descriptions) in this quiz, in order.
  * @param object $quiz the quiz.
- * @return array of slot => $question object with fields ->slot, ->id, ->maxmark, ->number, ->length. 
+ * @return array of slot => $question object with fields ->slot, ->id, ->maxmark, ->number, ->length.
  */
 function quiz_report_get_significant_questions($quiz) {
     global $DB;
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ function quiz_report_feedback_for_grade($grade, $quizid, $context) {
     }
 
     // Clean the text, ready for display.
-    $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+    $formatoptions = new stdClass();
     $formatoptions->noclean = true;
     $feedbacktext = file_rewrite_pluginfile_urls($feedbacktext, 'pluginfile.php', $context->id, 'mod_quiz', 'feedback', $feedbackid);
     $feedbacktext = format_text($feedbacktext, $feedbacktextformat, $formatoptions);
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/simpletest/testreportlib.php b/mod/quiz/report/simpletest/testreportlib.php
index 41066942ac4..d7f15cf3cb8 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/simpletest/testreportlib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/simpletest/testreportlib.php
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class question_reportlib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_quiz_report_scale_summarks_as_percentage() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->sumgrades = 10;
         $quiz->decimalpoints = 2;
 
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/qstats.php b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/qstats.php
index e0a7dc0580b..893ec536d12 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/qstats.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/qstats.php
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_question_stats {
      * @return object ready to hold all the question statistics.
      */
     protected function make_blank_question_stats() {
-        $stats = new stdClass;
+        $stats = new stdClass();
         $stats->slot = null;
         $stats->s = 0;
         $stats->totalmarks = 0;
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/report.php b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/report.php
index 97efa62faa0..07863c841f3 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/report.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/report.php
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
         }
 
         foreach ($responesstats->responseclasses as $partid => $partclasses) {
-            $rowdata = new stdClass;
+            $rowdata = new stdClass();
             $rowdata->part = $partid;
             foreach ($partclasses as $responseclassid => $responseclass) {
                 $rowdata->responseclass = $responseclass->responseclass;
@@ -556,11 +556,11 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
      */
     protected function get_emtpy_stats($questions, $firstattemptscount = 0,
             $allattemptscount = 0) {
-        $quizstats = new stdClass;
+        $quizstats = new stdClass();
         $quizstats->firstattemptscount = $firstattemptscount;
         $quizstats->allattemptscount = $allattemptscount;
 
-        $qstats = new stdClass;
+        $qstats = new stdClass();
         $qstats->questions = $questions;
         $qstats->subquestions = array();
         $qstats->responses = array();
@@ -612,13 +612,13 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
             $firstattempts = $attempttotals[1];
             $firstattempts->average = $firstattempts->total / $firstattempts->countrecs;
         } else {
-            $firstattempts = new stdClass;
+            $firstattempts = new stdClass();
             $firstattempts->countrecs = 0;
             $firstattempts->total = 0;
             $firstattempts->average = '-';
         }
 
-        $allattempts = new stdClass;
+        $allattempts = new stdClass();
         if (isset($attempttotals[0])) {
             $allattempts->countrecs = $firstattempts->countrecs + $attempttotals[0]->countrecs;
             $allattempts->total = $firstattempts->total + $attempttotals[0]->total;
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
         }
         $summarksavg = $usingattempts->total / $usingattempts->countrecs;
 
-        $quizstats = new stdClass;
+        $quizstats = new stdClass();
         $quizstats->allattempts = $useallattempts;
         $quizstats->firstattemptscount = $firstattempts->countrecs;
         $quizstats->allattemptscount = $allattempts->countrecs;
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
             //fetch sum of squared, cubed and power 4d
             //differences between marks and mean mark
             $mean = $usingattempts->total / $s;
-            $sql = "SELECT 
+            $sql = "SELECT
                     SUM(POWER((quiza.sumgrades - $mean),2)) AS power2,
                     SUM(POWER((quiza.sumgrades - $mean),3)) AS power3,
                     SUM(POWER((quiza.sumgrades - $mean),4)) AS power4
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_report extends quiz_default_report {
         }
 
         // Generate the output.
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->lastcalculated = format_time(time() - $quizstats->timemodified);
         $a->count = $count;
 
diff --git a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/responseanalysis.php b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/responseanalysis.php
index 4359789c58b..c2c39cae8f1 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/report/statistics/responseanalysis.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/report/statistics/responseanalysis.php
@@ -51,9 +51,8 @@ class quiz_statistics_response_analyser {
     public $responses = array();
 
     /**
-     * @var array An array of 
-     * $this->fractions[$subpartid][$responseclassid] is an object with two
-     * fields, ->responseclass and ->fraction.
+     * @var array $this->fractions[$subpartid][$responseclassid] is an object
+     * with two fields, ->responseclass and ->fraction.
      */
     public $responseclasses = array();
 
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_response_analyser {
         $partresponses = $qa->classify_response();
         foreach ($partresponses as $subpartid => $partresponse) {
             if (!isset($this->responses[$subpartid][$partresponse->responseclassid][$partresponse->response])) {
-                $resp = new stdClass;
+                $resp = new stdClass();
                 $resp->count = 0;
                 if (!is_null($partresponse->fraction)) {
                     $resp->fraction = $partresponse->fraction;
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ class quiz_statistics_response_analyser {
         foreach ($this->responses as $subpartid => $partdata) {
             foreach ($partdata as $responseclassid => $classdata) {
                 foreach ($classdata as $response => $data) {
-                    $row = new stdClass;
+                    $row = new stdClass();
                     $row->quizstatisticsid = $quizstatisticsid;
                     $row->questionid = $this->questiondata->id;
                     $row->subqid = $subpartid;
diff --git a/mod/quiz/review.php b/mod/quiz/review.php
index 585883569ec..fa01ca7c9aa 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/review.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/review.php
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ if ($options->marks && quiz_has_grades($quiz)) {
     } else {
         // Show raw marks only if they are different from the grade (like on the view page).
         if ($quiz->grade != $quiz->sumgrades) {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->grade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $attempt->sumgrades);
             $a->maxgrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $quiz->sumgrades);
             $rows[] = '<tr><th scope="row" class="cell">' . get_string('marks', 'quiz') . '</th><td class="cell">' .
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ if ($options->marks && quiz_has_grades($quiz)) {
         }
 
         // Now the scaled grade.
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->grade = '<b>' . quiz_format_grade($quiz, $grade) . '</b>';
         $a->maxgrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $quiz->grade);
         if ($quiz->grade != 100) {
diff --git a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testaccessrules.php b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testaccessrules.php
index c4d2083d835..b92592417f5 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testaccessrules.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testaccessrules.php
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/mod/quiz/locallib.php');
 class simple_rules_test extends UnitTestCase {
     public static $includecoverage = array('mod/quiz/locallib.php');
     function test_num_attempts_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 3;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
         $rule = new num_attempts_access_rule($quizobj, 0);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
 
         $this->assertEqual($rule->description(), get_string('attemptsallowedn', 'quiz', 3));
 
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ class simple_rules_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_ipaddress_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
 
         // Test the allowed case by getting the user's IP address. However, this
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ class simple_rules_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_time_limit_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->timelimit = 3600;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
         $rule = new time_limit_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
 
         $this->assertEqual($rule->description(), get_string('quiztimelimit', 'quiz', format_time(3600)));
 
@@ -126,14 +126,14 @@ class simple_rules_test extends UnitTestCase {
  */
 class open_close_date_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     function test_no_dates() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->timeopen = 0;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->preview = 0;
 
         $rule = new open_close_date_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
@@ -153,14 +153,14 @@ class open_close_date_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_start_date() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->timeopen = 10000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->preview = 0;
 
         $rule = new open_close_date_access_rule($quizobj, 9999);
@@ -179,14 +179,14 @@ class open_close_date_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_close_date() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->timeopen = 0;
         $quiz->timeclose = 20000;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->preview = 0;
 
         $rule = new open_close_date_access_rule($quizobj, 20000);
@@ -211,14 +211,14 @@ class open_close_date_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_both_dates() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->timeopen = 10000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 20000;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->preview = 0;
 
         $rule = new open_close_date_access_rule($quizobj, 9999);
@@ -261,17 +261,17 @@ class open_close_date_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
  */
 class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     function test_just_first_delay() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 3;
         $quiz->timelimit = 0;
         $quiz->delay1 = 1000;
         $quiz->delay2 = 0;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->timefinish = 10000;
 
         $rule = new inter_attempt_delay_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
@@ -293,17 +293,17 @@ class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_just_second_delay() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 5;
         $quiz->timelimit = 0;
         $quiz->delay1 = 0;
         $quiz->delay2 = 1000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->timefinish = 10000;
 
         $rule = new inter_attempt_delay_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
@@ -328,17 +328,17 @@ class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_just_both_delays() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 5;
         $quiz->timelimit = 0;
         $quiz->delay1 = 2000;
         $quiz->delay2 = 1000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->timefinish = 10000;
 
         $rule = new inter_attempt_delay_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
@@ -371,17 +371,17 @@ class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_with_close_date() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 5;
         $quiz->timelimit = 0;
         $quiz->delay1 = 2000;
         $quiz->delay2 = 1000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 15000;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->timefinish = 13000;
 
         $rule = new inter_attempt_delay_access_rule($quizobj, 10000);
@@ -421,17 +421,17 @@ class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_time_limit_and_overdue() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->attempts = 5;
         $quiz->timelimit = 100;
         $quiz->delay1 = 2000;
         $quiz->delay2 = 1000;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
         $attempt->timestart = 9900;
         $attempt->timefinish = 10100;
 
@@ -486,14 +486,14 @@ class inter_attempt_delay_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
  */
 class password_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     function test_password_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->password = 'frog';
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
         $rule = new password_access_rule($quizobj, 0);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
 
         $this->assertFalse($rule->prevent_access());
         $this->assertEqual($rule->description(), get_string('requirepasswordmessage', 'quiz'));
@@ -512,14 +512,14 @@ class securewindow_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
     // Nothing very testable in this class, just test that it obeys the general access rule contact.
 
     function test_securewindow_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->popup = 1;
         $quiz->questions = '';
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 0;
         $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, null);
         $rule = new securewindow_access_rule($quizobj, 0);
-        $attempt = new stdClass;
+        $attempt = new stdClass();
 
         $this->assertFalse($rule->prevent_access());
         $this->assertFalse($rule->description());
@@ -536,16 +536,16 @@ class securewindow_access_rule_test extends UnitTestCase {
  */
 class quiz_access_manager_test extends UnitTestCase {
     public function test_cannot_review_message() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->reviewattempt = 0x10010;
         $quiz->timeclose = 0;
         $quiz->attempts = 0;
         $quiz->questions = '1,2,0,3,4,0';
 
-        $cm = new stdClass;
+        $cm = new stdClass();
         $cm->id = 123;
 
-        $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, new stdClass, false);
+        $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, new stdClass(), false);
 
         $am = new quiz_access_manager($quizobj, time(), false);
 
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ class quiz_access_manager_test extends UnitTestCase {
 
         $closetime = time() + 10000;
         $quiz->timeclose = $closetime;
-        $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, new stdClass, false);
+        $quizobj = new quiz($quiz, $cm, new stdClass(), false);
         $am = new quiz_access_manager($quizobj, time(), false);
 
         $this->assertEqual(get_string('noreviewuntil', 'quiz', userdate($closetime)),
diff --git a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlib.php b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlib.php
index 83cda8a9b7c..9463245948b 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlib.php
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/mod/quiz/lib.php');
 class quiz_lib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     public static $includecoverage = array('mod/quiz/lib.php');
     function test_quiz_has_grades() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->grade = '100.0000';
         $quiz->sumgrades = '100.0000';
         $this->assertTrue(quiz_has_grades($quiz));
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class quiz_lib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_quiz_format_grade() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->decimalpoints = 2;
         $this->assertEqual(quiz_format_grade($quiz, 0.12345678), format_float(0.12, 2));
         $this->assertEqual(quiz_format_grade($quiz, 0), format_float(0, 2));
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class quiz_lib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_quiz_format_question_grade() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->decimalpoints = 2;
         $quiz->questiondecimalpoints = 2;
         $this->assertEqual(quiz_format_question_grade($quiz, 0.12345678), format_float(0.12, 2));
diff --git a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlocallib.php b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlocallib.php
index 4887923d330..81427934518 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlocallib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testlocallib.php
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class quiz_locallib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_quiz_rescale_grade() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->decimalpoints = 2;
         $quiz->questiondecimalpoints = 3;
         $quiz->grade = 10;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class quiz_locallib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_quiz_get_slot_for_question() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->questions = '1,2,0,7,0';
         $this->assertEqual(1, quiz_get_slot_for_question($quiz, 1));
         $this->assertEqual(3, quiz_get_slot_for_question($quiz, 7));
diff --git a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testquizdisplayoptions.php b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testquizdisplayoptions.php
index a7e11b8cfa0..27a4267f26e 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/simpletest/testquizdisplayoptions.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/simpletest/testquizdisplayoptions.php
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/mod/quiz/locallib.php');
  */
 class mod_quiz_display_options_test extends UnitTestCase {
     function test_num_attempts_access_rule() {
-        $quiz = new stdClass;
+        $quiz = new stdClass();
         $quiz->decimalpoints = 2;
         $quiz->questiondecimalpoints = -1;
         $quiz->reviewattempt          = 0x11110;
diff --git a/mod/quiz/view.php b/mod/quiz/view.php
index b420f2393e3..2dc79afb191 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/view.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/view.php
@@ -310,13 +310,13 @@ if ($numattempts && $gradecolumn && !is_null($mygrade)) {
 
     if ($overallstats) {
         if ($moreattempts) {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->method = quiz_get_grading_option_name($quiz->grademethod);
             $a->mygrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $mygrade);
             $a->quizgrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $quiz->grade);
             $resultinfo .= $OUTPUT->heading(get_string('gradesofar', 'quiz', $a), 2, 'main');
         } else {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->grade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $mygrade);
             $a->maxgrade = quiz_format_grade($quiz, $quiz->grade);
             $a = get_string('outofshort', 'quiz', $a);
diff --git a/question/behaviour/adaptive/renderer.php b/question/behaviour/adaptive/renderer.php
index 7393d634826..547426224ef 100644
--- a/question/behaviour/adaptive/renderer.php
+++ b/question/behaviour/adaptive/renderer.php
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class qbehaviour_adaptive_renderer extends qbehaviour_renderer {
         }
 
         // Display the grading details from the last graded state
-        $mark = new stdClass;
+        $mark = new stdClass();
         $mark->max = $qa->format_max_mark($options->markdp);
 
         $actualmark = $gradedstep->get_fraction() * $qa->get_max_mark();
diff --git a/question/behaviour/behaviourbase.php b/question/behaviour/behaviourbase.php
index 9605af38c2c..eaaa5947d9c 100644
--- a/question/behaviour/behaviourbase.php
+++ b/question/behaviour/behaviourbase.php
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ abstract class question_behaviour {
      * @return string the comment, ready to be output.
      */
     public function format_comment($comment = null, $commentformat = null) {
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
 
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ abstract class question_behaviour {
      * @param unknown_type $step
      */
     protected function summarise_manual_comment($step) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         if ($step->has_behaviour_var('comment')) {
             $a->comment = shorten_text(html_to_text($this->format_comment(
                     $step->get_behaviour_var('comment')), 0, false), 200);
diff --git a/question/behaviour/rendererbase.php b/question/behaviour/rendererbase.php
index a4b9c22ff90..caa146c0567 100644
--- a/question/behaviour/rendererbase.php
+++ b/question/behaviour/rendererbase.php
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ abstract class qbehaviour_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
             if (!is_null($currentmark)) {
                 $attributes['value'] = $qa->format_fraction_as_mark($currentmark / $maxmark, $options->markdp);
             }
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->max = $qa->format_max_mark($options->markdp);
             $a->mark = html_writer::empty_tag('input', $attributes);
 
diff --git a/question/category_class.php b/question/category_class.php
index c007038cf68..e40a7d50827 100644
--- a/question/category_class.php
+++ b/question/category_class.php
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class question_category_object {
 
     public function display_move_form($questionsincategory, $category){
         global $OUTPUT;
-        $vars = new stdClass;
+        $vars = new stdClass();
         $vars->name = $category->name;
         $vars->count = $questionsincategory;
         echo $OUTPUT->box(get_string('categorymove', 'quiz', $vars), 'generalbox boxaligncenter');
diff --git a/question/editlib.php b/question/editlib.php
index 72c1dcf428e..87f6ec37c35 100644
--- a/question/editlib.php
+++ b/question/editlib.php
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class question_bank_creator_name_column extends question_bank_column_base {
 
     protected function display_content($question, $rowclasses) {
         if (!empty($question->creatorfirstname) && !empty($question->creatorlastname)) {
-            $u = new stdClass;
+            $u = new stdClass();
             $u->firstname = $question->creatorfirstname;
             $u->lastname = $question->creatorlastname;
             echo fullname($u);
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ class question_bank_modifier_name_column extends question_bank_column_base {
 
     protected function display_content($question, $rowclasses) {
         if (!empty($question->modifierfirstname) && !empty($question->modifierlastname)) {
-            $u = new stdClass;
+            $u = new stdClass();
             $u->firstname = $question->modifierfirstname;
             $u->lastname = $question->modifierlastname;
             echo fullname($u);
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ class question_bank_question_text_row extends question_bank_row_base {
     protected $formatoptions;
 
     protected function init() {
-        $this->formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $this->formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $this->formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $this->formatoptions->para = false;
     }
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ class question_bank_view {
     }
 
     protected function print_category_info($category) {
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->overflowdiv = true;
         echo '<div class="boxaligncenter">';
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ class question_bank_view {
 
         $category = $this->get_current_category($categoryandcontext);
 
-        $cmoptions = new stdClass;
+        $cmoptions = new stdClass();
         $cmoptions->hasattempts = !empty($this->quizhasattempts);
 
         $strselectall = get_string("selectall", "quiz");
@@ -1723,7 +1723,7 @@ function print_qtype_to_add_option($qtype) {
     echo '<label for="qtype_' . $qtype->name() . '">';
     echo '<input type="radio" name="qtype" id="qtype_' . $qtype->name() . '" value="' . $qtype->name() . '" />';
     echo '<span class="qtypename">';
-    $fakequestion = new stdClass;
+    $fakequestion = new stdClass();
     $fakequestion->qtype = $qtype->name();
     print_question_icon($fakequestion);
     echo $qtype->menu_name() . '</span><span class="qtypesummary">' .
diff --git a/question/engine/datalib.php b/question/engine/datalib.php
index abe2dbb2985..c9e76fc463a 100644
--- a/question/engine/datalib.php
+++ b/question/engine/datalib.php
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class question_engine_data_mapper {
      * @param question_usage_by_activity $quba the usage to store.
      */
     public function insert_questions_usage_by_activity(question_usage_by_activity $quba) {
-        $record = new stdClass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         $record->contextid = $quba->get_owning_context()->id;
         $record->component = addslashes($quba->get_owning_component());
         $record->preferredbehaviour = addslashes($quba->get_preferred_behaviour());
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class question_engine_data_mapper {
      * @param question_attempt $qa the question attempt to store.
      */
     public function insert_question_attempt(question_attempt $qa) {
-        $record = new stdClass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         $record->questionusageid = $qa->get_usage_id();
         $record->slot = $qa->get_slot();
         $record->behaviour = addslashes($qa->get_behaviour_name());
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class question_engine_data_mapper {
      */
     public function insert_question_attempt_step(question_attempt_step $step,
             $questionattemptid, $seq) {
-        $record = new stdClass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         $record->questionattemptid = $questionattemptid;
         $record->sequencenumber = $seq;
         $record->state = addslashes('' . $step->get_state());
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class question_engine_data_mapper {
         $record->id = $this->db->insert_record('question_attempt_steps', $record);
 
         foreach ($step->get_all_data() as $name => $value) {
-            $data = new stdClass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->attemptstepid = $record->id;
             $data->name = addslashes($name);
             $data->value = addslashes($value);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ ORDER BY
             $index = $row->slot . ',' . $row->questionid;
 
             if (!array_key_exists($index, $results)) {
-                $res = new stdClass;
+                $res = new stdClass();
                 $res->slot = $row->slot;
                 $res->questionid = $row->questionid;
                 $res->name = $row->name;
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ ORDER BY
      * @param question_usage_by_activity $quba the usage that has changed.
      */
     public function update_questions_usage_by_activity(question_usage_by_activity $quba) {
-        $record = new stdClass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         $record->id = $quba->get_id();
         $record->contextid = $quba->get_owning_context()->id;
         $record->component = addslashes($quba->get_owning_component());
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ ORDER BY
      * @param question_attempt $qa the question attempt that has changed.
      */
     public function update_question_attempt(question_attempt $qa) {
-        $record = new stdClass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         $record->id = $qa->get_database_id();
         $record->maxmark = $qa->get_max_mark();
         $record->minfraction = $qa->get_min_fraction();
diff --git a/question/engine/lib.php b/question/engine/lib.php
index 4f86258f460..0c7a2ca2c5b 100644
--- a/question/engine/lib.php
+++ b/question/engine/lib.php
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ class question_usage_by_activity {
         return $this->preferredbehaviour;
     }
 
-    /** @return stdClass the context this usage belongs to. */
+    /** @return object the context this usage belongs to. */
     public function get_owning_context() {
         return $this->context;
     }
diff --git a/question/engine/renderer.php b/question/engine/renderer.php
index d5a0b1a7e19..58d87b3e3ed 100644
--- a/question/engine/renderer.php
+++ b/question/engine/renderer.php
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class core_question_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
             $summary = get_string('markedoutofmax', 'question', $qa->format_max_mark($options->markdp));
 
         } else {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->mark = $qa->format_mark($options->markdp);
             $a->max = $qa->format_max_mark($options->markdp);
             $summary = get_string('markoutofmax', 'question', $a);
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class core_question_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
                         new popup_action('click', $url, 'reviewquestion', array('width' => 450, 'height' => 650)),
                         array('title' => get_string('reviewresponse', 'quiz')));
             }
-            $user = new stdClass;
+            $user = new stdClass();
             $user->id = $step->get_user_id();
             $row = array(
                 $stepno,
diff --git a/question/engine/simpletest/helpers.php b/question/engine/simpletest/helpers.php
index c48c17e9466..94bb898838d 100644
--- a/question/engine/simpletest/helpers.php
+++ b/question/engine/simpletest/helpers.php
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ abstract class testing_db_record_builder {
             if (count($row) != count($columns)) {
                 throw new Exception("Row contains the wrong number of fields.");
             }
-            $rec = new stdClass;
+            $rec = new stdClass();
             foreach ($columns as $i => $name) {
                 $rec->$name = $row[$i];
             }
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ class qbehaviour_walkthrough_test_base extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     protected function get_contains_num_parts_correct($num) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->num = $num;
         return new PatternExpectation('/<div class="numpartscorrect">' .
                 preg_quote(get_string('yougotnright', 'question', $a)) . '/');
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ class qbehaviour_walkthrough_test_base extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     protected function get_contains_mark_summary($mark) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->mark = format_float($mark, $this->displayoptions->markdp);
         $a->max = format_float($this->quba->get_question_max_mark($this->slot),
                 $this->displayoptions->markdp);
diff --git a/question/engine/upgradefromoldqe/upgrade.php b/question/engine/upgradefromoldqe/upgrade.php
index c9290faf4d2..699d0dfcbb3 100644
--- a/question/engine/upgradefromoldqe/upgrade.php
+++ b/question/engine/upgradefromoldqe/upgrade.php
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ abstract class qbehaviour_converter {
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param stdClass $question a question definition
+     * @param object $question a question definition
      * @return qtype_updater
      */
     protected function make_qtype_updater() {
diff --git a/question/format.php b/question/format.php
index eaad19c59ca..f810c188b79 100644
--- a/question/format.php
+++ b/question/format.php
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ class qformat_default {
      */
     function format_question_text($question) {
         global $DB;
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
         if (empty($question->questiontextformat)) {
diff --git a/question/format/blackboard_six/format.php b/question/format/blackboard_six/format.php
index 300a0e74f7e..3754d303f11 100644
--- a/question/format/blackboard_six/format.php
+++ b/question/format/blackboard_six/format.php
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class qformat_blackboard_six extends qformat_default {
 // the object created is NOT a moodle question object
 function create_raw_question($quest) {
 
-    $question = new StdClass;
+    $question = new stdClass();
     $question->qtype = $quest['#']['itemmetadata'][0]['#']['bbmd_questiontype'][0]['#'];
     $question->id = $quest['#']['itemmetadata'][0]['#']['bbmd_asi_object_id'][0]['#'];
     $presentation->blocks = $quest['#']['presentation'][0]['#']['flow'][0]['#']['flow'];
diff --git a/question/format/xml/format.php b/question/format/xml/format.php
index 465a032aacb..6b170f0157b 100644
--- a/question/format/xml/format.php
+++ b/question/format/xml/format.php
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         // restore files in questiontext
         $files = $this->getpath($question, array('#', 'questiontext', 0, '#','file'), array(), false);
         foreach ($files as $file) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $file['#'];
             $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
             $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         $filedata = $this->getpath($question, array('#', 'image_base64', '0', '#'), null, false);
         $filename = $this->getpath($question, array('#', 'image', '0', '#'), null, false);
         if ($filedata && $filename) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $filedata;
             $data->encoding = 'base64';
             $data->name = $filename;
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
                 $this->getpath($question, array('#', 'generalfeedback', 0, '@', 'format'), 'moodle_auto_format'));
         $files = $this->getpath($question, array('#', 'generalfeedback', 0, '#', 'file'), array(), false);
         foreach ($files as $file) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $file['#'];
             $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
             $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         $answerfiles = array();
         $files = $this->getpath($answer, array('#', 'answer', 0, '#', 'file'), array());
         foreach ($files as $file) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $file['#'];
             $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
             $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
@@ -252,14 +252,14 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         $feedbackfiles = array();
         $files = $this->getpath($answer, array('#', 'feedback', 0, '#', 'file'), array());
         foreach ($files as $file) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $file['#'];
             $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
             $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
             $feedbackfiles[] = $data;
         }
 
-        $ans = new stdclass;
+        $ans = new stdClass();
 
         $ans->answer = array();
         $ans->answer['text']   = $answertext;
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         if (array_key_exists('hintcontent', $hintxml['#'])) {
             // Backwards compatibility:
 
-            $hint = new stdClass;
+            $hint = new stdClass();
             $hint->hint = $this->getpath($hintxml,
                     array('#', 'hintcontent', 0, '#', 'text' ,0, '#'), '', true);
             $hint->shownumcorrect = $this->getpath($hintxml,
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
             return $hint;
         }
 
-        $hint = new stdClass;
+        $hint = new stdClass();
         $hint->hint = $this->getpath($hintxml, array('#', 'text', 0 , '#'), '', true);
         $hint->shownumcorrect = array_key_exists('shownumcorrect', $hintxml['#']);
         $hint->clearwrong = array_key_exists('clearwrong', $hintxml['#']);
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
                 $this->getpath($questions, array('#', 'generalfeedback', 0, '@', 'format'), 'moodle_auto_format'));
         $files = $this->getpath($questions, array('#', 'generalfeedback', 0, '#', 'file'), array(), false);
         foreach ($files as $file) {
-            $data = new stdclass;
+            $data = new stdClass();
             $data->content = $file['#'];
             $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
             $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
             $feedbackfiles = $this->getpath($answer, array('#', 'feedback', 0, '#', 'file'), array());
             $files = array();
             foreach ($feedbackfiles as $file) {
-                $data = new stdclass;
+                $data = new stdClass();
                 $data->content = $file['#'];
                 $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
                 $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         }
 
         if ($warning) {
-            $a = new stdClass;
+            $a = new stdClass();
             $a->questiontext = $qo->questiontext;
             $a->answer = get_string($qo->correctanswer ? 'true' : 'false', 'quiz');
             echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('truefalseimporterror', 'quiz', $a));
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
             $files = $this->getpath($instructions, array('0', '#', 'file'), array());
             $qo->instructions['files'] = array();
             foreach ($files as $file) {
-                $data = new stdclass;
+                $data = new stdClass();
                 $data->content = $file['#'];
                 $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
                 $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
                     array('0', '#', 'file'), array());
             $qo->instructions['files'] = array();
             foreach ($files as $file) {
-                $data = new stdclass;
+                $data = new stdClass();
                 $data->content = $file['#'];
                 $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
                 $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
                     array('0', '#', 'file'), array());
             $qo->instructions['files'] = array();
             foreach ($files as $file) {
-                $data = new stdclass;
+                $data = new stdClass();
                 $data->content = $file['#'];
                 $data->encoding = $file['@']['encoding'];
                 $data->name = $file['@']['name'];
@@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
      * </question>
      */
     function import_category($question) {
-        $qo = new stdClass;
+        $qo = new stdClass();
         $qo->qtype = 'category';
         $qo->category = $this->import_text($question['#']['category'][0]['#']['text']);
         return $qo;
diff --git a/question/format/xml/simpletest/testxmlformat.php b/question/format/xml/simpletest/testxmlformat.php
index 43de0c73ce1..e6197d23f4f 100644
--- a/question/format/xml/simpletest/testxmlformat.php
+++ b/question/format/xml/simpletest/testxmlformat.php
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class qformat_xml_test extends UnitTestCase {
 
     public function make_test_question() {
         global $USER;
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 0;
         $q->contextid = 0;
         $q->category = 0;
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class qformat_xml_test extends UnitTestCase {
 END;
 
         $questionxml = xmlize($xml);
-        $qo = new stdClass;
+        $qo = new stdClass();
 
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $importer->import_hints($qo, $questionxml['question']);
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ END;
 END;
 
         $questionxml = xmlize($xml);
-        $qo = new stdClass;
+        $qo = new stdClass();
 
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $importer->import_hints($qo, $questionxml['question'], true, true);
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ END;
 END;
 
         $questionxml = xmlize($xml);
-        $qo = new stdClass;
+        $qo = new stdClass();
 
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $importer->import_hints($qo, $questionxml['question']);
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_description($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'description';
         $expectedq->name = 'A description';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'The question text.';
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_description() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'description';
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_essay($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'essay';
         $expectedq->name = 'An essay';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Write something.';
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_essay() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'essay';
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_matching($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'match';
         $expectedq->name = 'Matching question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Match the upper and lower case letters.';
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_match() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'match';
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ END;
         $qdata->penalty = 0.3333333;
         $qdata->hidden = 0;
 
-        $qdata->options = new stdClass;
+        $qdata->options = new stdClass();
         $qdata->options->shuffleanswers = 1;
         $qdata->options->correctfeedback = 'Well done.';
         $qdata->options->correctfeedbackformat = FORMAT_HTML;
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_multichoice($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'multichoice';
         $expectedq->name = 'Multiple choice question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Which are the even numbers?';
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_multichoice() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'multichoice';
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ END;
         $qdata->penalty = 0.3333333;
         $qdata->hidden = 0;
 
-        $qdata->options = new stdClass;
+        $qdata->options = new stdClass();
         $qdata->options->single = 0;
         $qdata->options->shuffleanswers = 0;
         $qdata->options->answernumbering = 'abc';
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_numerical($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'numerical';
         $expectedq->name = 'Numerical question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'What is the answer?';
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ END;
     public function test_export_numerical() {
         question_bank::load_question_definition_classes('numerical');
 
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'numerical';
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_shortanswer($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'shortanswer';
         $expectedq->name = 'Short answer question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Fill in the gap in this sequence: Alpha, ________, Gamma.';
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_shortanswer() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'shortanswer';
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ END;
         $importer = new qformat_xml();
         $q = $importer->import_truefalse($xmldata['question']);
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'truefalse';
         $expectedq->name = 'True false question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'The answer is true.';
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ END;
     }
 
     public function test_export_truefalse() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 12;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'truefalse';
diff --git a/question/question.php b/question/question.php
index 9397febca9a..b12ff6c2e64 100644
--- a/question/question.php
+++ b/question/question.php
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ if ($id) {
     get_question_options($question, true);
 
 } else if ($categoryid && $qtype) { // only for creating new questions
-    $question = new stdClass;
+    $question = new stdClass();
     $question->category = $categoryid;
     $question->qtype = $qtype;
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ if (!$category = $DB->get_record('question_categories', array('id' => $question-
 }
 
 // Check permissions
-$question->formoptions = new stdClass;
+$question->formoptions = new stdClass();
 
 $categorycontext = get_context_instance_by_id($category->contextid);
 $addpermission = has_capability('moodle/question:add', $categorycontext);
diff --git a/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php b/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
index 9aa27817c80..4663243407f 100644
--- a/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
+++ b/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ class question_edit_calculated_form extends question_edit_form {
          $qu->category =$this->_form->_elements[$this->_form->_elementIndex['category']]->_values[0];
          but is coded using existing functions
          */
-        $qu = new stdClass;
-        $el = new stdClass;
+        $qu = new stdClass();
+        $el = new stdClass();
         /* no need to call elementExists() here */
         if ($this->_form->elementExists('category')){
             $el=$this->_form->getElement('category');
diff --git a/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php b/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
index eed793397f0..aa9e65cf679 100644
--- a/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                             $n = 0;
                             foreach( $items as $ii){
                                 $n++;
-                                $def->items[$n] = new stdClass;
+                                $def->items[$n] = new stdClass();
                                 $def->items[$n]->itemnumber=$ii->itemnumber;
                                 $def->items[$n]->value=$ii->value;
                             }
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
         $options = $DB->get_record("question_calculated_options", array("question" => $question->id));
         if (!$options) {
             $update = false;
-            $options = new stdClass;
+            $options = new stdClass();
             $options->question = $question->id;
         }
         // as used only by calculated
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                 $dataanswer = $dataanswer['text'];
             }
             if ( trim($dataanswer) != '' ) {
-                $answer = new stdClass;
+                $answer = new stdClass();
                 $answer->question = $question->id;
                 $answer->answer = trim($dataanswer);
                 $answer->fraction = $question->fraction[$key];
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
 
                 // Set up the options object
                 if (!$options = array_shift($oldoptions)) {
-                    $options = new stdClass;
+                    $options = new stdClass();
                 }
                 $options->question  = $question->id;
                 $options->answer    = $answer->id;
@@ -305,13 +305,13 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                 $datasetdef->id = $DB->insert_record( 'question_dataset_definitions', $datasetdef);
             }
             // Create relation to the dataset:
-            $questiondataset = new stdClass;
+            $questiondataset = new stdClass();
             $questiondataset->question = $question->id;
             $questiondataset->datasetdefinition = $datasetdef->id;
             $DB->insert_record('question_datasets', $questiondataset);
             if ($todo=='create'){ // add the items
                 foreach ($dataset->datasetitem as $dataitem ){
-                    $datasetitem = new stdClass;
+                    $datasetitem = new stdClass();
                     $datasetitem->definition=$datasetdef->id ;
                     $datasetitem->itemnumber = $dataitem->itemnumber ;
                     $datasetitem->value = $dataitem->value ;
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
         }else {
             // i.e records is true so test coherence
             $coherence = true ;
-            $a = new stdClass ;
+            $a = new stdClass() ;
             $a->qid = $question->id ;
             $a->qcat = $question->category ;
             foreach($records as $def ){
@@ -1213,7 +1213,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                     if (isset($datasetdefs[$defid]->items[$numberadded])  ){
                         // in case of regenerate it modifies the already existing record
                         if ( $defregenerate  ) {
-                            $datasetitem = new stdClass;
+                            $datasetitem = new stdClass();
                             $datasetitem->id = $datasetdefs[$defid]->items[$numberadded]->id;
                             $datasetitem->definition = $datasetdef->id ;
                             $datasetitem->itemnumber = $numberadded;
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                         }
                         //if not regenerate do nothing as there is already a record
                     } else {
-                        $datasetitem = new stdClass;
+                        $datasetitem = new stdClass();
                         $datasetitem->definition = $datasetdef->id ;
                         $datasetitem->itemnumber = $numberadded;
                         if ($this->supports_dataset_item_generation()) {
@@ -1297,7 +1297,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
 
     function comment_on_datasetitems($qtypeobj, $questionid, $questiontext, $answers, $data, $number) {
         global $DB, $QTYPES;
-        $comment = new stdClass;
+        $comment = new stdClass();
         $comment->stranswers = array();
         $comment->outsidelimit = false ;
         $comment->answers = array();
@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
     }
     function multichoice_comment_on_datasetitems($questionid, $questiontext, $answers,$data, $number) {
         global $DB;
-        $comment = new stdClass;
+        $comment = new stdClass();
         $comment->stranswers = array();
         $comment->outsidelimit = false ;
         $comment->answers = array();
@@ -1510,7 +1510,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
         foreach ($dataset as $name => $value) {
             $val = $value ;
             if(! is_numeric($val)){
-                $a = new stdClass;
+                $a = new stdClass();
                 $a->name = '{'.$name.'}' ;
                 $a->value = $value ;
                 echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('notvalidnumber','qtype_calculated',$a));
@@ -1573,7 +1573,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
             if (!isset($datasetdefs[$dataset])) {
                 //make new datasetdef
                 list($type, $category, $name) = explode('-', $dataset, 3);
-                $datasetdef = new stdClass;
+                $datasetdef = new stdClass();
                 $datasetdef->type = $type;
                 $datasetdef->name = $name;
                 $datasetdef->category  = $category;
@@ -1635,7 +1635,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
             }
 
             // Create relation to this dataset:
-            $questiondataset = new stdClass;
+            $questiondataset = new stdClass();
             $questiondataset->question = $form->id;
             $questiondataset->datasetdefinition = $datasetdef->id;
             $DB->insert_record('question_datasets', $questiondataset);
@@ -1703,7 +1703,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                 }// end of  copy the datasetdef
                 // Create relation to the new question with this
                 // copy as new datasetdef from the initial question
-                $questiondataset = new stdClass;
+                $questiondataset = new stdClass();
                 $questiondataset->question = $form->id;
                 $questiondataset->datasetdefinition = $datasetdef->id;
                 $DB->insert_record('question_datasets', $questiondataset);
@@ -1735,7 +1735,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
             }
 
             // Create relation to this dataset:
-            $questiondataset = new stdClass;
+            $questiondataset = new stdClass();
             $questiondataset->question = $form->id;
             $questiondataset->datasetdefinition = $datasetdef->id;
             $DB->insert_record('question_datasets', $questiondataset);
@@ -1767,7 +1767,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                FROM {question_dataset_definitions} d, {question_dataset_items} i, {question_datasets} q
               WHERE q.question = ? AND q.datasetdefinition = d.id AND d.id = i.definition AND i.itemnumber = ?
            ORDER by i.id DESC ", array($question->id, $datasetitem))) {
-           $a = new stdClass;
+           $a = new stdClass();
            $a->id = $question->id;
            $a->item = $datasetitem ;
             print_error('cannotgetdsfordependent', 'question', '', $a );
@@ -1793,7 +1793,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends default_questiontype {
         if (!isset($form->id) || $form->id == 0 ){
             $key = "$type-0-$name";
             $options[$key] = get_string($prefix."newlocal$type", $langfile);
-            $currentdatasetdef = new stdClass;
+            $currentdatasetdef = new stdClass();
             $currentdatasetdef->type = '0';
         }else {
 
diff --git a/question/type/calculatedmulti/edit_calculatedmulti_form.php b/question/type/calculatedmulti/edit_calculatedmulti_form.php
index bb3ca8732d8..3d7b320e4d8 100644
--- a/question/type/calculatedmulti/edit_calculatedmulti_form.php
+++ b/question/type/calculatedmulti/edit_calculatedmulti_form.php
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ class question_edit_calculatedmulti_form extends question_edit_form {
          * $qu->category =$this->_form->_elements[$this->_form->_elementIndex['category']]->_values[0];
          * but is coded using existing functions
          */
-        $qu = new stdClass;
-        $el = new stdClass;
+        $qu = new stdClass();
+        $el = new stdClass();
         /* no need to call elementExists() here */
         if ($this->_form->elementExists('category')){
             $el=$this->_form->getElement('category');
diff --git a/question/type/calculatedmulti/questiontype.php b/question/type/calculatedmulti/questiontype.php
index ff66469de32..ac0b0cd5771 100644
--- a/question/type/calculatedmulti/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/calculatedmulti/questiontype.php
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class question_calculatedmulti_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
         $options = $DB->get_record("question_calculated_options", array("question" => $question->id));
         if (!$options) {
             $update = false;
-            $options = new stdClass;
+            $options = new stdClass();
             $options->question = $question->id;
         }
         $options->synchronize = $question->synchronize;
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class question_calculatedmulti_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
                 $dataanswer = $dataanswer['text'];
             }
             if ( trim($dataanswer) != '' ) {
-                $answer = new stdClass;
+                $answer = new stdClass();
                 $answer->question = $question->id;
                 $answer->answer = trim($dataanswer);
                 $answer->fraction = $question->fraction[$key];
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class question_calculatedmulti_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
 
                 // Set up the options object
                 if (!$options = array_shift($oldoptions)) {
-                    $options = new stdClass;
+                    $options = new stdClass();
                 }
                 $options->question  = $question->id;
                 $options->answer    = $answer->id;
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class question_calculatedmulti_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
         } else {
             // i.e records is true so test coherence
             $coherence = true ;
-            $a = new stdClass ;
+            $a = new stdClass() ;
             $a->qid = $question->id ;
             $a->qcat = $question->category ;
             foreach($records as $def ){
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ class question_calculatedmulti_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
 
     function comment_on_datasetitems($qtypeobj,$questionid,$questiontext, $answers,$data, $number) { //multichoice_
         global $DB;
-        $comment = new stdClass;
+        $comment = new stdClass();
         $comment->stranswers = array();
         $comment->outsidelimit = false ;
         $comment->answers = array();
diff --git a/question/type/calculatedsimple/edit_calculatedsimple_form.php b/question/type/calculatedsimple/edit_calculatedsimple_form.php
index 47b60e15a39..f14a1cbf229 100644
--- a/question/type/calculatedsimple/edit_calculatedsimple_form.php
+++ b/question/type/calculatedsimple/edit_calculatedsimple_form.php
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
                     $sizeofolddef = sizeof($olddef);
                     for($key = 1; $key <= $sizeofolddef; $key++) {
                         $def = $olddef[$key] ;
-                        $this->datasetdefs[$def]= new stdClass ;
+                        $this->datasetdefs[$def]= new stdClass() ;
                         $this->datasetdefs[$def]->type = 1;
                         $this->datasetdefs[$def]->category = 0;
                       //  $this->datasets[$key]->name = $datasetname;
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
             foreach ($mandatorydatasets as $datasetname) {
                 if (!isset($this->datasetdefs["1-0-$datasetname"])) {
                     $key = "1-0-$datasetname";
-                    $this->datasetdefs[$key]=new stdClass ;//"1-0-$datasetname";
+                    $this->datasetdefs[$key]=new stdClass() ;//"1-0-$datasetname";
                     $this->datasetdefs[$key]->type = 1;
                     $this->datasetdefs[$key]->category = 0;
                     $this->datasetdefs[$key]->name = $datasetname;
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
                 $datasetdef->itemcount = $maxnumber;
                 unset($datasetdef->items);
                 for ($numberadded =1 ; $numberadded <= $maxnumber; $numberadded++){
-                    $datasetitem = new stdClass;
+                    $datasetitem = new stdClass();
                     $datasetitem->itemnumber = $numberadded;
                     $datasetitem->id = 0;
                     $datasetitem->value = $this->qtypeobj->generate_dataset_item($datasetdef->options);
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
                 for ($itemnumber = $this->noofitems; $itemnumber >= 1; $itemnumber--){
                     $data = array();
                     $numbererrors = array() ;
-                    $comment = new stdClass;
+                    $comment = new stdClass();
                     $comment->stranswers = array();
                     $comment->outsidelimit = false ;
                     $comment->answers = array();
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
                             $data[$datasetdef->name] = $datasetdef->items[$itemnumber]->value;
                             $this->formdata["number[$j]"] = $number = $datasetdef->items[$itemnumber]->value;
                             if(! is_numeric($number)){
-                                $a = new stdClass;
+                                $a = new stdClass();
                                 $a->name = '{'.$datasetdef->name.'}' ;
                                 $a->value = $datasetdef->items[$itemnumber]->value ;
                                 if (stristr($number,',')){
@@ -399,13 +399,13 @@ class question_edit_calculatedsimple_form extends question_edit_form {
                                     //$comment->outsidelimit = false ;
                                 }
                             }else if( stristr($number,'x')){ // hexa will pass the test
-                                $a = new stdClass;
+                                $a = new stdClass();
                                 $a->name = '{'.$datasetdef->name.'}' ;
                                 $a->value = $datasetdef->items[$itemnumber]->value ;
                                 $this->numbererrors['number['.$j.']']= get_string('hexanotallowed','qtype_calculated',$a);
                                 $numbererrors .= $this->numbererrors['number['.$j.']']."<br />";
                             } else if( is_nan($number)){
-                                $a = new stdClass;
+                                $a = new stdClass();
                                 $a->name = '{'.$datasetdef->name.'}' ;
                                 $a->value = $datasetdef->items[$itemnumber]->value ;
                                 $this->numbererrors["number[$j]"]= get_string('notvalidnumber','qtype_calculated',$a);
diff --git a/question/type/calculatedsimple/questiontype.php b/question/type/calculatedsimple/questiontype.php
index f205a3b4dab..216b814ba66 100644
--- a/question/type/calculatedsimple/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/calculatedsimple/questiontype.php
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class question_calculatedsimple_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
                 $dataanswer = $dataanswer['text'];
             }
             if ( trim($dataanswer) != '' ) {
-                $answer = new stdClass;
+                $answer = new stdClass();
                 $answer->question = $question->id;
                 $answer->answer = trim($dataanswer);
                 $answer->fraction = $question->fraction[$key];
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class question_calculatedsimple_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
 
                 // Set up the options object
                 if (!$options = array_shift($oldoptions)) {
-                    $options = new stdClass;
+                    $options = new stdClass();
                 }
                 $options->question  = $question->id;
                 $options->answer    = $answer->id;
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class question_calculatedsimple_qtype extends question_calculated_qtype {
                 }
                 $datasetdef->id = $DB->insert_record('question_dataset_definitions', $datasetdef);
                 $datasetdefs[]= clone($datasetdef);
-                $questiondataset = new stdClass;
+                $questiondataset = new stdClass();
                 $questiondataset->question = $question->id;
                 $questiondataset->datasetdefinition = $datasetdef->id;
                 $DB->insert_record('question_datasets', $questiondataset);
diff --git a/question/type/ddwtos/questiontype.php b/question/type/ddwtos/questiontype.php
index e360fcc15fb..e5078dd6be0 100644
--- a/question/type/ddwtos/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/ddwtos/questiontype.php
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos extends qtype_gapselect_base {
     }
 
     protected function choice_options_to_feedback($choice){
-        $output = new stdClass;
+        $output = new stdClass();
         $output->draggroup = $choice['choicegroup'];
         $output->infinite = !empty($choice['infinite']);
         return serialize($output);
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos extends qtype_gapselect_base {
             $mul_info = $ddwtos[$i];
 
             //Now, build the question_ddwtos record structure
-            $ddwtos = new stdClass;
+            $ddwtos = new stdClass();
             $ddwtos->questionid = $new_question_id;
             $ddwtos->shuffleanswers = isset($mul_info['#']['SHUFFLEANSWERS']['0']['#'])?backup_todb($mul_info['#']['SHUFFLEANSWERS']['0']['#']):'';
             if (array_key_exists("CORRECTFEEDBACK", $mul_info['#'])) {
diff --git a/question/type/ddwtos/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/ddwtos/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 4ef6567c5b5..dca047ed47a 100644
--- a/question/type/ddwtos/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/ddwtos/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos_test extends UnitTestCase {
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
         global $USER;
 
-        $dd = new stdClass;
+        $dd = new stdClass();
         $dd->id = 0;
         $dd->category = 0;
         $dd->contextid = 0;
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'ddwtos');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'ddwtos';
         $expectedq->name = 'A drag-and-drop question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Put these in order: [[1]], [[2]], [[3]].';
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'ddwtos');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'ddwtos';
         $expectedq->name = 'QDandD1 Base definition';
         $expectedq->questiontext = '<p>Drag and drop the words from the list below to fill the blank spaces and correctly complete the sentence.</p><p>At 25°C all aqueous basic solutions have [[1]] ion concentrations less than [[8]]<br />mol litre<sup>-1</sup> and pH values [[9]] than [[6]].</p><!--DONOTCLEAN-->';
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ class qtype_ddwtos_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_xml_export() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'ddwtos';
diff --git a/question/type/essay/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/essay/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 1c5116c523b..1a1f49b61b6 100644
--- a/question/type/essay/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/essay/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class qtype_essay_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 1;
 
         return $q;
diff --git a/question/type/gapselect/questiontype.php b/question/type/gapselect/questiontype.php
index dc4af4c00ac..5d2108e68d4 100644
--- a/question/type/gapselect/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/gapselect/questiontype.php
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class qtype_gapselect extends qtype_gapselect_base {
             $mul_info = $gapselects[$i];
 
             //Now, build the question_gapselect record structure
-            $gapselect = new stdClass;
+            $gapselect = new stdClass();
             $gapselect->questionid = $new_question_id;
             $gapselect->shuffleanswers = isset($mul_info['#']['SHUFFLEANSWERS']['0']['#'])?backup_todb($mul_info['#']['SHUFFLEANSWERS']['0']['#']):'';
             if (array_key_exists("CORRECTFEEDBACK", $mul_info['#'])) {
diff --git a/question/type/gapselect/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/gapselect/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 7860664e606..edf7d71710d 100644
--- a/question/type/gapselect/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/gapselect/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class qtype_gapselect_test extends UnitTestCase {
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
         global $USER;
 
-        $gapselect = new stdClass;
+        $gapselect = new stdClass();
         $gapselect->id = 0;
         $gapselect->category = 0;
         $gapselect->contextid = 0;
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ class qtype_gapselect_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'gapselect');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'gapselect';
         $expectedq->name = 'A select missing words question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Put these in order: [[1]], [[2]], [[3]].';
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class qtype_gapselect_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_xml_export() {
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 123;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->qtype = 'gapselect';
diff --git a/question/type/match/edit_match_form.php b/question/type/match/edit_match_form.php
index 5c3e10f42ba..3c5a2111707 100644
--- a/question/type/match/edit_match_form.php
+++ b/question/type/match/edit_match_form.php
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class qtype_match_edit_form extends question_edit_form {
                 $errors['subanswers['.$key.']'] = get_string('nomatchinganswerforq', 'qtype_match', $trimmedquestion);
             }
         }
-        $numberqanda = new stdClass;
+        $numberqanda = new stdClass();
         $numberqanda->q = 2;
         $numberqanda->a = 3;
         if ($questioncount < 1){
diff --git a/question/type/match/questiontype.php b/question/type/match/questiontype.php
index 3dbd16c4f1c..0df96e47363 100644
--- a/question/type/match/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/match/questiontype.php
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class qtype_match extends question_type {
     function save_question_options($question) {
         global $DB;
         $context = $question->context;
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
 
         $oldsubquestions = $DB->get_records('question_match_sub',
                 array('question' => $question->id), 'id ASC');
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class qtype_match extends question_type {
             // Update an existing subquestion if possible.
             $subquestion = array_shift($oldsubquestions);
             if (!$subquestion) {
-                $subquestion = new stdClass;
+                $subquestion = new stdClass();
                 // Determine a unique random code
                 $subquestion->code = rand(1, 999999999);
                 while ($DB->record_exists('question_match_sub', array('code' => $subquestion->code, 'question' => $question->id))) {
diff --git a/question/type/match/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/match/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 0ab03012331..24d56d4a254 100644
--- a/question/type/match/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/match/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class qtype_match_test extends UnitTestCase {
 
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
         global $USER;
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 0;
         $q->name = 'Matching question';
         $q->category = 0;
diff --git a/question/type/missingtype/simpletest/testmissingtype.php b/question/type/missingtype/simpletest/testmissingtype.php
index a85d82db1c4..f77f016e486 100644
--- a/question/type/missingtype/simpletest/testmissingtype.php
+++ b/question/type/missingtype/simpletest/testmissingtype.php
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ require_once(dirname(__FILE__) . '/../question.php');
 class qtype_missing_test extends UnitTestCase {
 
     protected function get_unknown_questiondata() {
-        $questiondata = new stdClass;
+        $questiondata = new stdClass();
         $questiondata->id = 0;
         $questiondata->category = 0;
         $questiondata->contextid = 0;
diff --git a/question/type/multianswer/edit_multianswer_form.php b/question/type/multianswer/edit_multianswer_form.php
index 3f0a377da9d..471fc0e88fa 100644
--- a/question/type/multianswer/edit_multianswer_form.php
+++ b/question/type/multianswer/edit_multianswer_form.php
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class question_edit_multianswer_form extends question_edit_form {
                 $diff = $countsubquestions - $countsavedsubquestions;
                 $mform->addElement('static', 'alert1', "<strong>".get_string('questionsadded','qtype_multianswer')."</strong>","<strong>".get_string('questionsmore','qtype_multianswer',$diff)."</strong>");
             }
-            $a = new stdClass ;
+            $a = new stdClass() ;
             $a->nb_of_quiz = $this->nb_of_quiz;
             $a->nb_of_attempts = $this->nb_of_attempts;
             $mform->addElement('header', 'additemhdr2', get_string('questionusedinquiz','qtype_multianswer',$a));
diff --git a/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php b/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
index 012cc4314f0..996e657f869 100644
--- a/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/multianswer/questiontype.php
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
 
     function save_question_options($question) {
         global $QTYPES, $DB;
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
 
         // This function needs to be able to handle the case where the existing set of wrapped
         // questions does not match the new set of wrapped questions so that some need to be
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
         }
 
         if (!empty($sequence)) {
-            $multianswer = new stdClass;
+            $multianswer = new stdClass();
             $multianswer->question = $question->id;
             $multianswer->sequence = implode(',', $sequence);
             if ($oldid = $DB->get_field('question_multianswer', 'id', array('question' => $question->id))) {
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
 
         $readonly = empty($options->readonly) ? '' : 'readonly="readonly"';
         $disabled = empty($options->readonly) ? '' : 'disabled="disabled"';
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
         $nameprefix = $question->name_prefix;
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                 // Set up a default chosenanswer so that all non-empty wrong
                 // answers are highlighted red
                 if (empty($chosenanswer) && $response != '') {
-                    $chosenanswer = new stdClass;
+                    $chosenanswer = new stdClass();
                     $chosenanswer->fraction = 0.0;
                 }
 
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
                                 $checked = 'checked="checked"';
                                 $chosen = true;
                             }
-                            $a = new stdClass;
+                            $a = new stdClass();
                             $a->id   = $question->name_prefix . $mcanswer->id;
                             $a->class = '';
                             $a->feedbackimg = '';
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ class embedded_cloze_qtype extends default_questiontype {
 
                     break;
                 default:
-                    $a = new stdClass;
+                    $a = new stdClass();
                     $a->type = $wrapped->qtype ;
                     $a->sub = $positionkey;
                     print_error('unknownquestiontypeofsubquestion', 'qtype_multianswer','',$a);
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ define("ANSWER_REGEX_ALTERNATIVES", 9);
 
 function qtype_multianswer_extract_question($text) {
     // $text is an array [text][format][itemid]
-    $question = new stdClass;
+    $question = new stdClass();
     $question->qtype = 'multianswer';
     $question->questiontext = $text;
     $question->generalfeedback['text'] = '';
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ function qtype_multianswer_extract_question($text) {
     $question->defaultgrade = 0; // Will be increased for each answer norm
 
     for ($positionkey=1; preg_match('/'.ANSWER_REGEX.'/', $question->questiontext['text'], $answerregs); ++$positionkey ) {
-        $wrapped = new stdClass;
+        $wrapped = new stdClass();
         $wrapped->generalfeedback['text'] = '';
         $wrapped->generalfeedback['format'] = '1';
         $wrapped->generalfeedback['itemid'] = '';
diff --git a/question/type/multichoice/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/multichoice/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 5edb7fad4f2..a064ad76ce9 100644
--- a/question/type/multichoice/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/multichoice/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class qtype_multichoice_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 1;
         $q->options->single = true;
         $q->options->answers[1] = (object) array('answer' => 'frog', 'fraction' => 1);
diff --git a/question/type/numerical/display.html b/question/type/numerical/display.html
index 12d678d507e..eeca1bdd3e0 100644
--- a/question/type/numerical/display.html
+++ b/question/type/numerical/display.html
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
                             
                 
                 $aid = $question->id ;
-                $a = new stdClass;
+                $a = new stdClass();
                 $a->id   = $question->name_prefix."unit" ;//. "2"
                 $a->class =  '' ;
                 $a->feedbackimg = '';
diff --git a/question/type/numerical/questiontype.php b/question/type/numerical/questiontype.php
index 91360627854..b269c631a76 100644
--- a/question/type/numerical/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/numerical/questiontype.php
@@ -244,12 +244,12 @@ class question_numerical_qtype extends qtype_shortanswer {
     function save_numerical_options($question) {
         global $DB;
 
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
 
         $update = true ;
         $options = $DB->get_record('question_numerical_options', array('question' => $question->id));
         if (!$options) {
-            $options = new stdClass;
+            $options = new stdClass();
             $options->question = $question->id;
             $options->instructions = '';
             $options->id = $DB->insert_record('question_numerical_options', $options);
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype extends qtype_shortanswer {
 
     function save_numerical_units($question) {
         global $DB;
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
 
         // Delete the units previously saved for this question.
         $DB->delete_records('question_numerical_units', array('question' => $question->id));
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype extends qtype_shortanswer {
             // Discard any unit which doesn't specify the unit or the multiplier
             if (!empty($question->multiplier[$i]) && !empty($question->unit[$i])&& !array_key_exists($question->unit[$i],$unitalreadyinsert)) {
                 $unitalreadyinsert[$question->unit[$i]] = 1 ;
-                $units[$i] = new stdClass;
+                $units[$i] = new stdClass();
                 $units[$i]->question = $question->id;
                 $units[$i]->multiplier = $this->apply_unit($question->multiplier[$i], array());
                 $units[$i]->unit = $question->unit[$i];
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype extends qtype_shortanswer {
 
         $context = $this->get_context_by_category_id($question->category);
         $readonly = empty($options->readonly) ? '' : 'readonly="readonly"';
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
         $nameprefix = $question->name_prefix;
@@ -848,12 +848,12 @@ class question_numerical_qtype extends qtype_shortanswer {
 
     // ULPGC ecastro
     function get_all_responses(&$question, &$state) {
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
         $answers = array();
         $unit = $this->get_default_numerical_unit($question);
         if (is_array($question->options->answers)) {
             foreach ($question->options->answers as $aid=>$answer) {
-                $r = new stdClass;
+                $r = new stdClass();
                 $r->answer = $answer->answer;
                 $r->credit = $answer->fraction;
                 $this->get_tolerance_interval($answer);
diff --git a/question/type/numerical/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/numerical/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index c9082c14ca5..d344bf62313 100644
--- a/question/type/numerical/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/numerical/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_get_tolerance_interval() {
-        $answer = new stdClass;
+        $answer = new stdClass();
         $answer->tolerance = 0.01;
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'relative';
         $answer->answer = 1.0;
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 0.99, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 1.01, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass;
+        $answer = new stdClass();
         $answer->tolerance = 0.01;
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'relative';
         $answer->answer = 10.0;
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 9.9, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 10.1, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass;
+        $answer = new stdClass();
         $answer->tolerance = 0.01;
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'nominal';
         $answer->answer = 1.0;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class question_numerical_qtype_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 0.99, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 1.01, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass;
+        $answer = new stdClass();
         $answer->tolerance = 2.0;
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'nominal';
         $answer->answer = 10.0;
@@ -88,21 +88,21 @@ class question_numerical_qtype_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 8, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 12, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass; // Test default tolerance 0.
+        $answer = new stdClass(); // Test default tolerance 0.
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'nominal';
         $answer->answer = 0.0;
         $this->qtype->get_tolerance_interval($answer);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 0, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 0, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass; // Test default type nominal.
+        $answer = new stdClass(); // Test default type nominal.
         $answer->tolerance = 1.0;
         $answer->answer = 1.0;
         $this->qtype->get_tolerance_interval($answer);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->min, 0, $this->tolerance);
         $this->assertWithinMargin($answer->max, 2, $this->tolerance);
 
-        $answer = new stdClass;
+        $answer = new stdClass();
         $answer->tolerance = 1.0;
         $answer->tolerancetype = 'geometric';
         $answer->answer = 1.0;
diff --git a/question/type/opaque/editengine.php b/question/type/opaque/editengine.php
index 9a554cbe1d3..25c81c8ed8c 100644
--- a/question/type/opaque/editengine.php
+++ b/question/type/opaque/editengine.php
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if ($mform->is_cancelled()){
     redirect(new moodle_url('/question/type/opaque/engines.php'));
 
 } else if ($data = $mform->get_data()){
-    $engine = new stdClass;
+    $engine = new stdClass();
     if (!empty($data->engineid)) {
         $engine->id = $data->engineid;
     }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ if ($mform->is_cancelled()){
 }
 
 // Prepare defaults.
-$defaults = new stdClass;
+$defaults = new stdClass();
 $defaults->engineid = $engineid;
 if ($engineid) {
     $engine = qtype_opaque_load_engine_def($engineid);
diff --git a/question/type/opaque/locallib.php b/question/type/opaque/locallib.php
index 420c30d0448..5b1b2cdd947 100644
--- a/question/type/opaque/locallib.php
+++ b/question/type/opaque/locallib.php
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ function qtype_opaque_update_state(question_attempt $qa, question_attempt_step $
             $question->remoteid, $question->remoteversion);
 
     if ($cachestatus == 'empty') {
-        $SESSION->cached_opaque_state = new stdClass;
+        $SESSION->cached_opaque_state = new stdClass();
         $opaquestate = $SESSION->cached_opaque_state;
         $opaquestate->qaid = $qa->get_database_id();
         $opaquestate->remoteid = $question->remoteid;
diff --git a/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testlocallib.php b/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testlocallib.php
index a2b01450c25..cbd6b1c50da 100644
--- a/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testlocallib.php
+++ b/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testlocallib.php
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_locallib_test extends UnitTestCase {
     function test_is_same_engine() {
         $manager = new qtype_opaque_engine_manager();
 
-        $engine1 = new stdClass;
+        $engine1 = new stdClass();
         $engine1->name = 'OpenMark live servers';
         $engine1->passkey = '';
         $engine1->questionengines = array(
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_locallib_test extends UnitTestCase {
                 'https://ltsweb1.open.ac.uk/openmark/!question',
                 'https://ltsweb2.open.ac.uk/openmark/!question');
 
-        $engine2 = new stdClass;
+        $engine2 = new stdClass();
         $engine2->name = 'OpenMark live servers';
         $engine2->passkey = '';
         $engine2->questionengines = array(
diff --git a/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 56f6cabf1c7..036d9aaa309 100644
--- a/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/opaque/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $manager = new qtype_opaque_engine_manager_mock();
         question_bank::get_qtype('opaque')->set_engine_manager($manager);
 
-        $engine = new stdClass;
+        $engine = new stdClass();
         $engine->name = 'A question engine';
         $engine->questionengines = array('http://example.com/');
         $engine->questionbanks = array();
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'opaque');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'opaque';
         $expectedq->name = 'An Opaque question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = '';
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $manager = new qtype_opaque_engine_manager_mock();
         question_bank::get_qtype('opaque')->set_engine_manager($manager);
 
-        $engine = new stdClass;
+        $engine = new stdClass();
         $engine->name = 'A question engine';
         $engine->questionengines = array('http://example.com/qe2', 'http://example.com/qe1');
         $engine->questionbanks = array('http://example.com/qb');
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class qtype_opaque_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'opaque');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'opaque';
         $expectedq->name = 'An Opaque question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = '';
@@ -242,14 +242,14 @@ class qtype_opaque_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $manager = new qtype_opaque_engine_manager_mock();
         question_bank::get_qtype('opaque')->set_engine_manager($manager);
 
-        $engine = new stdClass;
+        $engine = new stdClass();
         $engine->name = 'A question engine';
         $engine->questionengines = array('http://example.com/');
         $engine->questionbanks = array();
         $engine->passkey = 'secret';
         $manager->add_test_engine(123, $engine);
 
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 321;
         $qdata->contextid = -666;
         $qdata->qtype = 'opaque';
diff --git a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/helper.php b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/helper.php
index fdf0bf41e65..5733b939275 100644
--- a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/helper.php
+++ b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/helper.php
@@ -61,12 +61,12 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_test_helper {
     /**
      * Get the question data, as it would be loaded by get_question_options, for
      * the question returned by {@link make_an_oumultiresponse_two_of_four()}.
-     * @return stdClass
+     * @return object
      */
     public static function get_question_data() {
         global $USER;
 
-        $qdata = new stdClass;
+        $qdata = new stdClass();
         $qdata->id = 0;
         $qdata->contextid = 0;
         $qdata->category = 0;
diff --git a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestion.php b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestion.php
index 3249293b7f7..0997e06dcfb 100644
--- a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestion.php
+++ b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestion.php
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_question_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     function test_grade_computation() {
-        $right = new stdClass;
+        $right = new stdClass();
         $right->fraction = 1.0;
-        $wrong = new stdClass;
+        $wrong = new stdClass();
         $wrong->fraction = 0.0;
 
         $penalty = 0.3333333;
diff --git a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 144bb9065f7..4cf5a45837f 100644
--- a/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/oumultiresponse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_get_possible_responses() {
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 1;
         $q->options->answers[1] = (object) array('answer' => 'frog', 'fraction' => 1);
         $q->options->answers[2] = (object) array('answer' => 'toad', 'fraction' => 1);
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_get_random_guess_score() {
-        $questiondata = new stdClass;
+        $questiondata = new stdClass();
         $questiondata->options->answers = array(
             1 => new question_answer(1, 'A', 1, '', FORMAT_HTML),
             2 => new question_answer(2, 'B', 0, '', FORMAT_HTML),
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'oumultiresponse');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'oumultiresponse';
         $expectedq->name = 'OU multiple response question';
         $expectedq->questiontext = 'Which are the odd numbers?';
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class qtype_oumultiresponse_test extends UnitTestCase {
         $q = $importer->try_importing_using_qtypes(
                 $xmldata['question'], null, null, 'oumultiresponse');
 
-        $expectedq = new stdClass;
+        $expectedq = new stdClass();
         $expectedq->qtype = 'oumultiresponse';
         $expectedq->name = '008 OUMR feedback test';
         $expectedq->questiontext = '<p>OUMR question.</p><p>Right answers are eighta and eightb.</p>';
diff --git a/question/type/questionbase.php b/question/type/questionbase.php
index 659b9ccfae9..5a4b977f9e9 100644
--- a/question/type/questionbase.php
+++ b/question/type/questionbase.php
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ abstract class question_definition {
      */
     public function format_text($text, $qa, $component, $filearea, $itemid, $clean = false) {
         // TODO format.
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = !$clean;
         $formatoptions->para = false;
         $text = $qa->rewrite_pluginfile_urls($text, $component, $filearea, $itemid);
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ abstract class question_definition {
      * @param string $text The HTML to reduce to plain text.
      */
     public function html_to_text($text) {
-        $formatoptions = new stdClass;
+        $formatoptions = new stdClass();
         $formatoptions->noclean = true;
         return html_to_text(format_text($text, $this->questiontextformat, $formatoptions),
                 0, false);
diff --git a/question/type/questiontype.php b/question/type/questiontype.php
index 2c21359dbbe..7ff562130d6 100644
--- a/question/type/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/questiontype.php
@@ -435,12 +435,12 @@ class question_type {
             $options = $DB->get_record($question_extension_table, array($questionidcolname => $question->id));
             if (!$options) {
                 $function = 'insert_record';
-                $options = new stdClass;
+                $options = new stdClass();
                 $options->$questionidcolname = $question->id;
             }
             foreach ($extra_question_fields as $field) {
                 if (!isset($question->$field)) {
-                    $result = new stdClass;
+                    $result = new stdClass();
                     $result->error = "No data for field $field when saving " .
                             $this->name() . ' question id ' . $question->id;
                     return $result;
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ class question_type {
             }
 
             if (!$DB->{$function}($question_extension_table, $options)) {
-                $result = new stdClass;
+                $result = new stdClass();
                 $result->error = 'Could not save question options for ' .
                         $this->name() . ' question id ' . $question->id;
                 return $result;
@@ -1086,7 +1086,7 @@ class question_type {
 
     function import_file($context, $component, $filearea, $itemid, $file) {
         $fs = get_file_storage();
-        $record = new stdclass;
+        $record = new stdClass();
         if (is_object($context)) {
             $record->contextid = $context->id;
         } else {
diff --git a/question/type/random/questiontype.php b/question/type/random/questiontype.php
index 3cc3ce4e5e1..10d6d978c59 100644
--- a/question/type/random/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/random/questiontype.php
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class qtype_random extends question_type {
     }
 
     protected function set_selected_question_name($question, $randomname) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         $a->randomname = $randomname;
         $a->questionname = $question->name;
         $question->name = get_string('selectedby', 'qtype_random', $a);
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class qtype_random extends question_type {
         // No options, as such, but we set the parent field to the question's
         // own id. Setting the parent field has the effect of hiding this
         // question in various places.
-        $updateobject = new stdClass;
+        $updateobject = new stdClass();
         $updateobject->id = $question->id;
         $updateobject->parent = $question->id;
 
diff --git a/question/type/randomsamatch/questiontype.php b/question/type/randomsamatch/questiontype.php
index b013aadde7a..6f08a1fd926 100644
--- a/question/type/randomsamatch/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/randomsamatch/questiontype.php
@@ -258,14 +258,14 @@ class question_randomsamatch_qtype extends qtype_match {
                     foreach($answer->options->answers as $ans ){
                        $answer->answertext = $ans->answer ;
                     }
-                    $r = new stdClass;
+                    $r = new stdClass();
                     $r->answer = $answer->questiontext . ": " . $answer->answertext;
                     $r->credit = 1;
                     $answers[$aid] = $r;
                 }
             }
         }
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
         $result->id = $question->id;
         $result->responses = $answers;
         return $result;
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ class question_randomsamatch_qtype extends qtype_match {
                     if ($answer->questiontext) {
                         $ans = array_shift($answer->options->answers);
                         $answer->answertext = $ans->answer ;
-                        $r = new stdClass;
+                        $r = new stdClass();
                         $r->answer = $answer->questiontext . ": " . $answer->answertext;
                         $r->credit = 1;
                         $answers[$question->id][$subqid] = array($ans->id => $r);
diff --git a/question/type/rendererbase.php b/question/type/rendererbase.php
index 09fac77d215..691efbcaa4b 100644
--- a/question/type/rendererbase.php
+++ b/question/type/rendererbase.php
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ abstract class qtype_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
      * @return string HTML fragment.
      */
     protected function num_parts_correct(question_attempt $qa) {
-        $a = new stdClass;
+        $a = new stdClass();
         list($a->num, $a->outof) = $qa->get_question()->get_num_parts_right(
                 $qa->get_last_qt_data());
         if (is_null($a->outof)) {
diff --git a/question/type/shortanswer/questiontype.php b/question/type/shortanswer/questiontype.php
index e29379c4507..a42ba0fa58e 100644
--- a/question/type/shortanswer/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/shortanswer/questiontype.php
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class qtype_shortanswer extends question_type {
 
     public function save_question_options($question) {
         global $DB;
-        $result = new stdClass;
+        $result = new stdClass();
 
         $context = $question->context;
 
diff --git a/question/type/shortanswer/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/shortanswer/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index fcd26d4eccc..6eecfd1ad77 100644
--- a/question/type/shortanswer/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/shortanswer/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class qtype_shortanswer_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     protected function get_test_question_data() {
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 1;
         $q->options->answers[1] = (object) array('answer' => 'frog', 'fraction' => 1);
         $q->options->answers[2] = (object) array('answer' => '*', 'fraction' => 0.1);
diff --git a/question/type/simpletest/testquestionbase.php b/question/type/simpletest/testquestionbase.php
index 6af7ac5d29b..92eae841dc0 100644
--- a/question/type/simpletest/testquestionbase.php
+++ b/question/type/simpletest/testquestionbase.php
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class question_first_matching_answer_grading_strategy_test extends UnitTestCase
  */
 class question_hint_test extends UnitTestCase {
     public function test_basic() {
-        $row = new stdClass;
+        $row = new stdClass();
         $row->id = 123;
         $row->hint = 'A hint';
         $row->hintformat = FORMAT_HTML;
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class question_hint_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_with_parts() {
-        $row = new stdClass;
+        $row = new stdClass();
         $row->id = 123;
         $row->hint = 'A hint';
         $row->hintformat = FORMAT_HTML;
diff --git a/question/type/truefalse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php b/question/type/truefalse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
index 13f1a83d03e..3fc75889c8d 100644
--- a/question/type/truefalse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/truefalse/simpletest/testquestiontype.php
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class qtype_truefalse_test extends UnitTestCase {
     }
 
     public function test_get_possible_responses() {
-        $q = new stdClass;
+        $q = new stdClass();
         $q->id = 1;
         $q->options->trueanswer = 1;
         $q->options->falseanswer = 2;