Summative Evaluation

An evaluation is a systematic and purposeful collection and analysis of data used to document the effectiveness of programs or interventions. Rigorous evaluation can determine if programs or interventions should be maintained, improved, or eliminated. The term summative evaluation (sometimes referred to as ex-post evaluation or outcome evaluation) was first introduced in the mid-1960s by Lee Cronbach and Michael Scriven and refers to a process of evaluating a program’s or intervention’s impact or efficacy through careful examination of program design and management. It is often used to assess the accountability of a program or intervention. As such, summative evaluation is outcome focused more than process focused and most often undertaken at the end of the project, when the program or intervention is stable and/or when ...