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

• Published in: The American journal of evaluation 2021-03, Vol.42 (1), p.28-46
• Main Author: Wanzer, Dana Linnell
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Definitions; Differences; Evaluation; Evaluation Research; Evaluators; Intellectual Disciplines; Researchers
• ISSN: 1098-2140; 1557-0878
• DOI: 10.1177/1098214020920710

With a lack of consensus of what evaluation is within the field of evaluation, there is a difficulty in communicating to nonevaluators what evaluation is and how evaluation differs from research. To understand how evaluation is defined, both evaluators and researchers were asked how they defined evaluation and, if at all, differentiated evaluation from research. Overall, evaluators believed research and evaluation intersect, whereas researchers believed evaluation is a subcomponent of research. Furthermore, evaluators perceived greater differences between evaluation and research than researchers did, particularly in characteristics relevant at the beginning (e.g., purpose, questions, audience) and end (e.g., rendering value judgments, disseminating results) of studies. This study suggests that greater consensus on a definition of evaluation is needed to be able to distinguish the field and discipline of evaluation from related fields and to be able to communicate this information to nonevaluators.