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“Task” as Research Construct
Author(s) -
Seedhouse Paul
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/j.0023-8333.2005.00314.x
Subject(s) - construct (python library) , conceptualization , task (project management) , psychology , perspective (graphical) , task analysis , process (computing) , conversation , focus (optics) , cognitive psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence , communication , programming language , physics , management , optics , economics , operating system
The article examines “task” as research construct as predominantly conceived in terms of task‐as‐workplan in the task‐based learning/second language acquisition literature. It is suggested that “task” has weak construct validity and ontology in an overwhelmingly quantitative paradigm because the construct has a “split personality.” Conceptualization is based on the task‐as‐workplan, but data are gathered from the task‐in‐process. The article adopts a conversation analysis perspective and demonstrates that the two can be very different. It is proposed that a secure basis for “task” as research construct and for the quantification of discoursal data is attainable only by switching the conceptual and methodological focus to task‐in‐process.