Chief Evaluation Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tom Chapel differentiates between research and evaluation on the basis of time: "Researchers must stand back and wait for the experiment to play out... Evaluation, on the other hand, is a process unfolding “in real-time ..." But what does this actually mean?
Evaluation is not the same as research and in fact, it is typically less complicated. Here are a few more of the major differences between research and evaluation.
What is Research?
Research can be defined as a scientific query that is intended to expand general knowledge and theory. It typically takes place in a controlled setting and produces insights that are relevant to a broad range of applications.
What is Evaluation?
Evaluation, on the other hand, is the process of gauging the value of a program or policy. The result of evaluation is information that can inform the decision-making process on a given policy or program. Evaluation is not conducted in a controlled setting; instead, it happens within a constantly evolving setting with different participants, timelines, and resources.
Which One Do You Need?
Sometimes it can be hard to determine whether your next course of action requires research, evaluation, or both. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine which process you need to undertake:
Do I need information about an entire population, or do I need information about a program?
If you need information about the entirety of a given population, it's time to conduct some research. If information about a specific program is more applicable, then evaluation may be more pertinent.
Do I need to prove something, or do I need to improve something?
Research is undertaken in an effort to prove a hypothesis. Evaluation is used when a process needs to be improved.
Am I trying to determine value, or am I looking for empirical data?
Research is the process of collecting data and drawing conclusions from that empirical information. Evaluation, on the other hand, seeks to determine the value of a process or program.
Whether you need to do research or carry out an evaluation, EvaluCore is here to assist you. Contact us to find out more and begin your preliminary consultation today.
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