Test fairness in traditional and dynamic assessment

Abstract

This paper aims to unfold the conceptualizations of test fairness from two different perspectives: traditional and dynamic assessment. First, it goes over a variety of definitions presented for fairness. The paper then discusses three views regarding the relationship between test fairness and test validity in order to get better insights into the nature of the intended concept. It further investigates Kunnan's test fairness framework (TFF) as one of the most comprehensive models presented for test fairness. It tries to review and criticize this model. It is worth noting that the three views, discussed in this paper, represent fairness from a traditional perspective. Furthermore, the study elaborates on dynamic assessment and its main tenets since it intends to compare the conceptualizations of fairness within traditional and dynamic assessment. In fact, fairness is viewed from a completely different perspective in dynamic assessment in which instruction and assessment are integrated and dialectically related to form an approach which prioritizes development over measurement. © 2013 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.