Evaluation
is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object. This
definition is hardly perfect. There are many types of evaluations that do not
necessarily result in an assessment of worth or merit descriptive studies,
implementation analyses, and formative evaluations, to name a few. Better
perhaps is a definition that emphasizes the information-processing and feedback
functions of evaluation.
The generic goal of most evaluations is to
provide "useful feedback" to a variety of audiences including
sponsors, donors, client-groups, administrators, staff, and other relevant
constituencies. Most often, feedback is perceived as "useful" if it
aids in decision-making. But the relationship between an evaluation and its
impact is not a simple one -- studies that seem critical sometimes fail to
influence short-term decisions, and studies that initially seem to have no
influence can have a delayed impact when more congenial conditions arise.
Despite this, there is broad consensus that the major goal of evaluation should
be to influence decision-making or policy formulation through the provision of
empirically-driven feedback.
To conclude, Evaluation is the
systematic acquisition and assessment of information to provide useful feedback
about some object.
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