- What is relevance?
- social relevance
- cultural relevance
- Relevance of a project
- Relevance of a test
- Pertinence and relevance
We explain what social and cultural relevance is. Also, what is the relevance of a project and a test.
What is relevance?
We commonly say that something is relevant when it has to do with the matter in question or when it belongs to or corresponds to the topic. That is to say, what is considered pertinent is normally something convenient, adjusted, even useful or that contributes some information worth considering.
For example, a comment pertinent is the one that contributes to what is discussed or that at least has to do with it; while an impertinent comment is one that does not contribute anything or does not even have to do with what is being discussed.
The word pertinent comes from pertinence, and both from the Latin verb relevant, translatable as “belong”, “correspond” or “be adequate in a situation”. This verb is made up of the voices per- (“through” or “completely”) and I will have (“hold”, “dominate” or “hold”).
Seen in this way, relevance is the quality of something to fully correspond to its context: a relevant argument in a lawsuit is one that deserves to be taken into account (for example, the objections of lawyers in a lawsuit, when they are relevant, usually receive a "has place" from the judge).
The opposite of relevance is, of course, impertinence. Therefore, something impertinent is something that does not correspond to its context, that is not useful, nor does it have a place in what is done or said.
social relevance
Social relevance is a concept coined for the study of Educational systems, especially university or higher.It is understood as the degree of adequacy or commitment that a university has with respect to Social context in which it develops. This concept can be applied to any type of specialized study institute.
In other words, a university career whose study projects have absolutely nothing to do with the social reality of the people around them is a career with little social relevance.
There is talk of social relevance when evaluating and/or rethinking the place of universities in their environment. They are expected to help solve the society problems, forming professionals in the areas and with the appropriate perspectives, that is, professionals committed to improving the human group to which they belong and not disconnected from it (that is, alienated).
For example, a university that devotes significant efforts to training technology professionals in a country with a lack of industrial development may be creating the leaders who will revolutionize the technology landscape locally, and thereby demonstrating great social relevance.
cultural relevance
In education and others processes political-social, cultural relevance is the degree of adaptation that an educational process, a public policy or some training process has, with respect to the cultural framework of the population in which it occurs. In other words, the more your own cultural context is taken into account, the more cultural relevance you have and you can, in theory, obtain better results.
Cultural relevance has to do with the values and the budgets that are assumed when designing an educational strategy or a public campaign. For example, it would not make much sense to dedicate efforts to promoting the consumption of pork in a Muslim country, since the latter prohibits the consumption of said animal.
This has its equivalent in educational work, for example, when trying to form individuals with values borrowed from another culture or disconnected from eigenvalues. The ideal would be for the educational process not only to connect socially and culturally with the reality of the students, but also to foster in them a feeling of identity own and belonging to your tradition.
Relevance of a project
It is said that a Project (of any kind) is relevant when it addresses central or relevant topics in its field, or when it promises to develop ideas and solutions that have to do with the immediate reality of the society to which the researchers belong.
The relevant projects, thus, are those that show a high commitment to their place of enunciation, while the impertinent ones are those that address issues or perspectives unrelated to their social, cultural or educational context.
For a project to be relevant, then, it must have a justification that allows us to understand their contributions to society, culture or their specific field of human knowledge.
Relevance of a test
In law and legal sciences, it is considered that a test is relevant when it has to do with the facts that are being judged, that is, when it provides relevant information for the matter in question, and therefore can be assumed as valid, useful to the process. or worth considering.
This does not imply, however, that the evidence is conclusive or that based on it a decision can be established. TRUE: a test may be relevant, but not conducive.
For example, a defendant's bloodstained sock may be relevant evidence in a murder trial, but it is of little relevance in a tax evasion case. The pertinent evidence is, therefore, that which belongs to the judicial process, and therefore is worthy of consideration.
Pertinence and relevance
The notions of relevance and relevance are often confused. But while the former refers to that which belongs, that agrees and has a place, relevance refers to that which stands out, stands out and is therefore worthy of attention.
Thus, while relevance can be understood as suitability, concordance or adaptation, relevance, on the other hand, must be understood as importance, transcendence or significance.
So something can be relevant but not relevant, and vice versa. For example, if we are debating the best economic strategy for our country, a comment that expresses the need to distribute the money well may be pertinent, even if it is not very relevant because it does not say anything that we do not all think in one way or another.
On the other hand, if a comment that affirms the importance of fiber in a balanced breakfast is totally irrelevant. Finally, a third comment that proposes a fiscal reform of the State may be not only pertinent, but relevant: striking, important, remarkable.