What Is Evaluation? Perspectives of How Evaluation Differs (or Not) From Research

• In Event: 45.084 - The Balancing Act of Evaluation in Education

Abstract

With a lack of consensus of what evaluation is within the field of evaluation, there is difficulty in explaining to nonevaluators what evaluation is and especially how it differs from research. This study surveyed evaluators and researchers to determine how they define evaluation and, if at all, distinguish evaluation from applied research. Results supported the hypotheses that (a) evaluators differentiate evaluation from research differently from researchers, believing research and evaluation intersect whereas researchers believe evaluation is a sub-component of research, and (b) evaluators see greater differences between evaluation and research than researchers do. This study suggests more work needs to be done in communicating evaluation to researchers to distinguish the field of evaluation.

Author

• Dana Linnell Wanzer, University of Wisconsin-Stout