Gisele Tchamba on Learning the Difference between Evaluation and Research
- By Gisele Tchamba
- •
- 21 Jun, 2020
- •
Lessons learned:
- Know the difference. To become good evaluators, students with social science background must learn to distinguish between evaluation and research. I came to realize that practicing evaluation does not preclude doing pure research. On the contrary, the methods are interconnected but the aim is different. Therefore after I have learnt and understood the difference between the two, I developed a personal method to lighten the burden of explaining the difference by getting two imaginary hats (researcher and evaluator), that I switch on and off as I do evaluation/research or explain to people what evaluation is and how it differs from research.
- The burden of explaining. Many people in academia vaguely know the meaning of evaluation. Those who think they do mistake evaluation for assessment in education. Whenever I meet with people whose understanding of evaluation is limited to educational assessment, I use Scriven’s definition and emphasis words like “value, merit, and worth”. This usually brings forth expression like “oooh” that is usually followed by their desire to learn more. So I give Coryn’s definition “Evaluation is driven by the need to make informed, defensible, decisions and the desire to impose classifications regarding quality or value…..” Then I explain that social science research is a truth seeking activity aimed at contributing to existing knowledge or generating new knowledge, or for application to some specific problem related to human action and interaction and does not have the burden or rendering judgment of merit or worth.
Hot Tip – Distinguishing between evaluation and social science research:
- Theoretical and practical experiences are helpful ways to distinguish between the two disciplines. The IDPE curriculum prepares students to do both evaluation and research, e.g. research methods courses that are required for the mastering of evaluation methodology are actually social science research methods.
- Extensive reading of evaluation literature helps to see the difference. I also like Trochim’s definition of evaluation found in his evaluation of Scriven minimalist theory, “Evaluation is a profession that uses formal methodologies to provide useful empirical evidence about public entities (such as programs, products, performance) in decision making contexts that are inherently political and involve multiple often conflicting stakeholders, where resources are seldom sufficient, and where time-pressures are salient.”
Resources:
Did you know that the first #experimental #method was held about 600 BC? That's over 2600 years ago. There was training program for a set of young men for the king's service. Part of the training included being fed the royal's delicacies, and being taught other subjects. But at the start of the study a nutrition experiment has to be included, because one of the young men refused to eat some of the food at the king's table. His well-mannered and respect for his overseer, facilitated the experiment. It was a #longitudinalstudy that lasted three years. The young man requested to be pretested for 10 days.
The #intervention was: food and beverages: 1) the #treatmentgroup received healthy food (fresh fruits, legumes and other vegetables), while the #controlgroup ate the fancy super "rich" food (greasy and lots of meat delicacies, wine, ...etc) from the king's table.
The #pilot only lasted ten days. At the end of the ten days the #treatmentgroup (4 young men) looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men in the control group who ate the royal food.
The study went on for three years. At the end of the study, participants from the treatment group, looked healthier and passed the king's test with super high scores. The king was impressed with their wisdom and understanding of every subject.
Participants from the control group performed... well not good enough to impressed the king. These four young men received high positions in the kingdom and served the king well.
What type of food do you eat to keep your mind sharp for what matters, and your immune system strong and ready to fight this pandemic, especially, if it's coming back this fall? (read Spanish Flu of 1918)
Did you also know that a bad habit is easily changed if one practices the alternative for about 21 days? Well, it requires a set routine, which should be performed uninterruptedly.
I have been practicing a stress-free weight management and have been very successful so far with 10.5 lbs. each month. Successfully meeting my monthly goal.
My greatest desire is to take you through the same journey using a very simple, yet evidence-based tool. The ToC.
Come along and experience change. Your body will be very grateful to you for years to come.