An argument-based approach to validity in evaluation

To maximize the impact of research on programs, this article proposes a ‘reaching-down—reachingup’ perspective in evaluation design, whereby it serves two functions simultaneously: the program improvement function, reaching down, and the knowledge development function, reaching up. This proposal fra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evaluation (London, England. 1995) England. 1995), 2011-07, Vol.17 (3), p.233-246
Main Author: LeBaron Wallace, Tanner
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied research
Assessment
Design
Evaluation
Evaluation designs
Validation
Validity
Values
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:To maximize the impact of research on programs, this article proposes a ‘reaching-down—reachingup’ perspective in evaluation design, whereby it serves two functions simultaneously: the program improvement function, reaching down, and the knowledge development function, reaching up. This proposal frames applied research as a particular species of evaluation. As validity is a fundamental assessment of how well a design supports particular inferences related to specific uses, the article subsequently summarizes and integrates disparate validity perspectives to develop an argument-based approach to validity in a ‘reaching-down—reaching-up’ evaluation model case study. Lastly, the location(s) of validation is considered in order to highlight evaluator responsibilities.
ISSN:1356-3890
1461-7153
DOI:10.1177/1356389011410522