Geldigheid vanuit drie paradigmas beskou: ’n eenheid, of ’n veelheid van perspektiewe?
Abstract
Language tests are the norm at institutions
of higher education nowadays, either
before or after admission. Such tests,
or the decisions taken on the basis of
the results, can contribute to inclusion or
exclusion. In post-1994 South Africa it is
obviously important that a concept such
as ‘validity’ be investigated thoroughly,
as the impact of the aforementioned
tests may be far-reaching. This article
therefore discusses the concept ‘validity’
from a philosophical perspective on
the foundations of applied linguistics
and defines it according to three
paradigms, i.e. a traditional paradigm,
the contemporary/conventional view
and a more acceptable, extended paradigm. The crux of the argument
is that validity can be an attribute of a
test and be explicated as constitutive
concept by further (regulative) ideas
about language testing. The conceptual
work of Albert Weideman forms the
theoretical framework for this article.
This framework entails that multiple
perspectives are necessary to ensure
that applied linguistic or technical
designs (such as language tests) are
used in an accountable manner.
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- Faculty of Humanities [2033]