Evaluations

Evaluations are systematic determinations of the merit, worth, or significance of a program, policy, project, or other object, based on explicit criteria and credible evidence. They aim to determine value and effectiveness and to inform decisions. Evaluation differs from measurement or assessment in that it explicitly ties findings to value judgments and often uses predefined criteria.

Common types include formative evaluations, conducted during development to improve design and implementation, and summative evaluations, conducted at or after completion to judge impact. Other distinctions include process evaluation (how activities were implemented), outcome evaluation (whether intended results occurred), and impact evaluation (net changes attributable to the intervention). Evaluations can be internal, carried out within the organization, or external, conducted by independent evaluators to provide objectivity.

The evaluation process typically involves clarifying the purpose and criteria, developing indicators, designing data collection, gathering and analyzing data (quantitative and qualitative), interpreting findings, reporting results, and recommending actions. Methods may include surveys, interviews, focus groups, document review, observations, and economic analyses such as cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness studies. Theory of change or logic models are often used to map the expected links between activities and outcomes.

Key considerations include bias, validity, and reliability, as well as ethical concerns like confidentiality and informed consent. Stakeholder involvement and transparency are emphasized to enhance legitimacy and uptake of findings.

Evaluations are applied across sectors, including education, government, nonprofit organizations, and business, to improve accountability, justify funding, refine programs, and inform policy decisions.