Metaphors and the Psychometric Paradigm

Autor/in	Bramley, Tom
Titel	Metaphors and the Psychometric Paradigm
Quelle	In: Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 27 (2020) 2, S.178-191 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0969-594X
DOI	10.1080/0969594X.2020.1731421
Schlagwörter	Figurative Language; Psychometrics; Educational Assessment; Standard Setting; Language Usage; Measurement; Academic Ability + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Psychometry; Psychometrie; Education; assessment; Bewertungssystem; Standardisierung; Sprachgebrauch; Messverfahren
Abstract	This paper analyses the psychometric paradigm for understanding educational measurement and standard setting by considering the extent to which that understanding is based on metaphors. I argue that through the metaphors 'more is up' and 'good is up' we spatialise concepts that are not intrinsically spatial. Human abilities form a distinct conceptual category, with complex and varying rules for the correct usage of different ability terms. The fact that most abilities can be discussed in terms of both 'possession' and of 'more or less' invites reification, spatialisation, and hence the application of measurement metaphors. Insights into the measurement of abilities can be gained by careful consideration of how ability terms are used in normal discourse, especially of athletic abilities which are partly quantified in terms of attributes that are physically measureable. The fuzziness of natural language creates some of the problems in understanding standards in both psychometrics and physical measurement. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01