V

Validation is the process of determining the degree of validity of a test, examination, etc.

Validity refers to the 'faithfulness' of a test. It is defined as the extent to which a test actually measures what it is intended to measure. In other words, a test is said to be valid when it measures accurately and faithfully the ability or knowledge that the test is intended to measure. There are different types of validity, and each of which has been dealt with under separate entries. [Also see, 'a priori' Validity, Concurrent Validity, Construct Validity, Convergent Validity, Criterion Related Validity, Curriculum Validity, Definitional Validity, Face Validity, Heterotrait-Monomethod Validity, Logical Validity, Predictive Validity, Response Validity, Sampling Validity, Status Validity].

Valuation is the process of assigning a value to the examinees on the basis of their performance. Awarding marks or grades to the answer scripts of the examinee would bean example. [Also see, Value].

Value is a conception of the magnitude of a quantity or a quality of a trait-characteristic of an individual or a set or a population. It may be expressed in terms of a symbol or a numeral. This conception of value helps in determining the desirability of a trait.

Valuing is one of the affective characteristics. It is the third from among the five hierarchical levels of the non-scholastic aspects learners' growth (under the affective domain) as stated in the TEO. Valuing is the assessing of the worth of something or an abstract concept. Argue, assist, help, protest, support, etc., are some of the action verbs that would represent 'valuing'.

Variable literally means changeable. It is able to vary in quantity or magnitude or in some qualitative aspect. It may be compared with 'trait' for further understanding. Variable refers to the actual quantities, whereas the trait refers to that to which the data are assigned. Thus trait suggests an entity whereas variable is not. Depending on the changes or the estimates that are happened with the variables, they called as dependent and independent variables.

Variability refers to the spread of a set of scores around their mean value. It is usually indicated by the standard deviation of the scores.

Variance is a measure of dispersion (of scores) around the mean. It is also called 'mean square deviation' and is equal to the mean of the squares of the deviations of raw scores from their arithmetic mean. In other words, variance is the square of the standard deviation. It is used in testing the statistical significances of differences in the scores. The computation of the variance of a set of scores obtained by a group of learners of the Advanced Course in Tamil Language of the Southern Regional Language Centre, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, is given below. [See, p.169].

Variate is the magnitude of a particular observation or measurement. It may also refer to a particular value of variable

Mean    =   200/10  =  20

 Variance           =          (S.D.)²             =          s²

                                                             =          åc²_               =          244_   =   24.4
                                                                           N                                10

Verbal Test attempts to measure facility with language usage - vocabulary, spelling, synonyms, antonyms, verbal analogies, etc. (i.e., verbal knowledge). It includes the word as well as number usage (Thorndike and Hagen, 1977, p.137). because verbal knowledge can be recorded, thought about, and communicated so conveniently, schools and colleges are mostly concerned with the developing of this knowledge and test the same. [Also see, Non-verbal Test, Performance Test].

Verification is the process of establishing the relation between a theory and the facts, and also to find out the use of objective data to confirm or prove the truth or actuality of a hypothesis.

Viva-Voce is widely known as 'viva' only. It refers to an oral examination or the oral part of an examination and mostly based on what the examinee has already given in writing, viz., examination answer scripts or thesis, etc. it may be either for verification of the written part of the examination or for clarifying the some of the unwritten points that deemed to have been known by the examinee. Mostly, it is conducted for certification purposes, like award of degrees, etc. although similar, in its nature and purpose, viva is different from interview. Viva-Voce - literal meaning 'word of mouth'. [Also see, Interview].

Vocabulary Test is one that is designed and administered for the purpose of measuring a person's knowledge, understanding and the usage of words in different ways and different contexts. Several criteria are employed for this purpose, viz., recognition of words, contextual meaning, ability to define and use in a sentence, etc. the vocabulary selected for the test may be of samples either from general vocabulary or from a special vocabulary (e.g., education or psychology, etc.). Obtaining a representative sample is subject to many technical difficulties.

Vocational Aptitude Test is one that is designed and administered to predict how quickly and well a person can learn to perform the necessary tasks of a given vocation. Usually - series of tests are designed and administered to discover one's aptitude for a particular vocation.