What Is The Meaning Of Evaluation And What Are The Functions & Principles Of Evaluation

Different educationist has defined evaluation as following:

James M. Bradfield:

Evaluation is the assignment of sym­bols to phenomenon, in order to characterize the worth or value of a phenomenon, usually with reference to some cultural or scientific standards.

Thorndike and Hegan:

The term evaluation is closely re­lated to measurement. It is in some respect, inclusive in­cluding informal and intuitive judgement of pupil’s progress. Evaluation is describing something in term of selected attributes and judging the degree of acceptability or suitability of that which has been described.

Norman E. Gronlund and Robert L. Linn:

Evaluation is a systematic process of collecting, analysing and interpreting in­formation to determine the extent to which pupil’s are achievement instructional objectives.

C.V. Good:

The process of ascertaining or judging the value or amount of something by use of a standard of standard of appraisal includes judgement in terms of internal evidence and external criteria. From the above definitions it can b said that evaluations a much more comprehensive and inclusive term than the meas­urement and test. A test is a set of question measurement is assigning numbers to the results of test according to some specific rules on the other hand evaluation adds value judgement.

For example when we say Rohan secured 45 numbers in Arith­metic. It just indicates ‘how much’ Rohan has successfully answered. It does not include any qualitative description i.e. ‘how good’ he is in Arithmetic. Evaluation on the other hand includes both quantitative description (measurement) and qualitative description (Non measurement) along with value judgements. This relationship between measurement, non measurement and evaluation can be illustrated with the help of following diagram (1.1).

Principles of Evaluation:

Evaluation is a sys­tematic process of determining to what extent instructional ob­jectives has been achieved. Therefore evaluation process must be carried out with effective techniques.

The following principles will help to make the evaluation process an effective one:

1. It must be clearly stated what is to be evaluated:

A teacher must be clear about the purpose of evaluation. He must formulate the instructional objectives and define them clearly in terms of student’s observable behaviour. Before selecting the achievement measures the intended learning out comes must be specified clearly.

2. A variety of evaluation techniques should be used for a comprehensive evaluation:

It is not possible to evaluate all the aspect of achievement with the help of a single technique. For the better evaluation the techniques like objective tests, essay tests, observational techniques etc. should be used. So that a complete’ picture of the pupil achievement and development can be assessed.

3. An evaluator should know the limitations of dif­ferent evaluation techniques:

Evaluation can be done with the help of simple observation or highly developed standardized tests. But whatever the instrument or technique may be it has its own limitation. There may be measurement errors. Sampling error is a common factor in educational and psychological meas­urements. An achievement test may not include the whole course content. Error in measurement can also be found due to students guessing on objective tests. Error is also found due to incorrect interpretation of test scores.

4. The technique of evaluation must be appropriate for the characteristics or performance to be measured:

Every evaluation technique is appropriate for some uses and inap­propriate for another. Therefore while selecting an evaluation technique one must be well aware of the strength and limitations of the techniques.

5. Evaluation is a means to an end but not an end in itself:

The evaluation technique is used to take decisions about the learner. It is not merely gathering data about the learner. Because blind collection of data is wastage of both time and effort. But the evaluation is meant for some useful purpose.

Functions of Evaluation:

The main aim of teaching learning process is to enable the pupil to achieve intended learning outcomes. In this process the learning objectives are fixed then after the instruction learning progress is periodically evaluated by tests and other evaluation devices.

The function of evaluation process can be summarized as following:

1. Evaluation helps in preparing instructional objec­tives:

Learning outcomes expected from class-room discussion can be fixed by using evaluation results.

What type of knowledge and understanding the student should develop?

What skill they should display?

What interest and attitude they should develop?

Can only be possible when we shall identify the instructional objectives and state them clearly in terms of intended learning outcomes. Only a good evaluation process helps us to fix up a set of perfect instructional objectives. Educational Evaluations in US visit here

2. Evaluation process helps in assessing the learner’s needs:

In the teaching learning process it is very much necessary to know the needs of the learners. The instructor must know the knowledge and skills to be mastered by the students. Evaluation helps to know whether the students possess required knowledge and skills to proceed with the instruction.

3. Evaluation help in providing feed back to the stu­dents:

An evaluation process helps the teacher to know the learn­ing difficulties of the students. It helps to bring about an im­provement in different school practices. It also ensures an ap­propriate follow-up service.

4. Evaluation helps in preparing programmed materials:

Programmed instruction is a continuous series of learning sequences. First the instructional material is presented in a limited amount then a test is given to response the instructional material. Next feedback is provided on the basis of correctness of response made. So that without an effective evaluation process the programmed learning is not possible.

5. Evaluation helps in curriculum development:

Cur­riculum development is an important aspect of the instructional process. Evaluation data enable the curriculum development, to determine the effectiveness of new procedures, identify areas where revision is needed. Evaluation also helps to determine the degree to what extent an existing curriculum is effective. Thus evaluation data are helpful in constructing the new curriculum and evaluating the existing curriculum.

6. Evaluation helps in reporting pupil’s progress to parents:

A systematic evaluation procedure provides an objective and comprehensive picture of each pupil’s progress. This com­prehensive nature of the evaluation process helps the teacher to report on the total development of the pupil to the parents. This type of objective information about the pupil provides the foun­dation for the most effective co-operation between the parents and teachers.

7. Evaluation data are very much useful in guidance and counselling:

Evaluation procedures are very much neces­sary for educational, vocational and personal guidance. In order to assist the pupils to solve their problems in the educational, vocational and personal fields the counsellor must have an objec­tive knowledge of the pupils abilities, interests, attitudes and other personal characteristics. An effective evaluation procedure helps in getting a comprehensive picture of the pupil which leads to effective guidance and of counselling.

8. Evaluation helps in effective school administration:

Evaluation data helps the administrators to judge the extent to which the objectives of the school are being achieved, to find out strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum and arranging special school programmes. It also helps in decisions concerning admis­sion, grouping and promotion of the students.

9. Evaluation data are helpful in school research:

In order to make the school programme more effective, researches are necessary. Evaluation data help in research areas like comparative study of different curricula, effectiveness of different methods, effectiveness of different organisational plans, etc.

Meaning of Evaluation:

Evaluation refers to the systematic process of assessing, analyzing, and interpreting information to make judgments about the value, effectiveness, or quality of something. In various fields, such as education, business, and healthcare, evaluation is used to measure performance, outcomes, or progress and to make informed decisions for improvement.

In the context of education, evaluation typically involves assessing students’ learning outcomes, instructional methods, and curriculum effectiveness. In business, it may involve assessing project outcomes, employee performance, or organizational strategies.

Functions of Evaluation:

1. Assessment of Progress:

   • Evaluation helps determine the progress made toward achieving a particular goal, whether it’s the effectiveness of a lesson plan in education or the success of a project in business.

2. Decision Making:

   • Evaluation provides essential information that aids in decision-making, guiding whether to continue, modify, or halt a particular approach, program, or initiative.

3. Improvement:

   • It helps identify areas that need improvement. By evaluating performance, weaknesses and gaps can be addressed to improve processes, methods, or outcomes.

4. Accountability:

   • Evaluation ensures that individuals or organizations are held accountable for their actions, performance, and use of resources. This is important in educational settings, businesses, or government programs.

5. Motivation:

   • Evaluations can act as motivational tools. Positive evaluations can encourage individuals or groups to continue their efforts, while constructive feedback can help them make necessary adjustments.

6. Guiding Future Planning:

   • Evaluation results can serve as a basis for planning future initiatives, programs, or courses. It provides insights into what works and what doesn’t, which can inform future strategies.

Principles of Evaluation:

1. Objectivity:

   • Evaluation should be impartial, free from personal bias. It should be based on facts, data, and clear criteria to ensure fairness and consistency in judgment.

2. Validity:

   • The evaluation should measure what it is intended to measure. For example, in education, it should assess students’ learning outcomes rather than unrelated factors.

3. Reliability:

   • Evaluation results should be consistent over time and across different evaluators. If the same evaluation process is repeated under the same conditions, it should yield similar results.

4. Comprehensiveness:

   • An effective evaluation should consider all relevant factors. In education, this means looking at various aspects such as content knowledge, skills, behavior, and learning environment.

5. Transparency:

   • The evaluation process should be transparent, with clear criteria and methods that are shared with those being evaluated. This ensures that everyone understands how evaluations are being conducted.

6. Timeliness:

   • Evaluations should be conducted at appropriate times so that the information gathered is relevant to decision-making or improvement efforts. Feedback should be provided promptly to allow for timely adjustments.

7. Formative and Summative Evaluation:

   • Formative evaluation is conducted during the process (e.g., ongoing assessments in education) to provide feedback for improvement.

   • Summative evaluation is conducted after the completion of a program or project (e.g., final exam results in education or project success assessment) to evaluate its overall effectiveness.

8. Practicality:

   • The evaluation process should be practical, feasible, and resource-efficient. It should not require excessive resources or time for the results it generates.

9. Feedback-Oriented:

   • Evaluation should not just assess the outcome but also provide constructive feedback that can lead to improvements. Whether it’s feedback on student performance or business strategies, it should be actionable.

Conclusion:

Evaluation is a critical process for assessing effectiveness, guiding improvements, and ensuring accountability in various fields. By adhering to principles such as objectivity, validity, and reliability, evaluations can provide valuable insights to help individuals, organizations, and systems make informed decisions and achieve their goals.