Thanks for sharing.

I agree with the view of the colleagues in which the evaluation/assessment is an essential part of a research and,  thus, research.

Besides, in my opinion, only presentation and analysis of the data without their evaluation/assessment, in order to go further, offers less than expected progress, in general, to science.

Dear Debra Sharon,

One of the most common ways of thinking about the difference between research and evaluation is as a dichotomy - two distinct and mutually exclusive categories.  Research is seen as more interested in producing general sable knowledge, more theoretical, more controlled by the researchers – evaluation is seen as more interested in specific, applied knowledge, and more controlled by those funding or commissioning the evaluation.

Evaluation particularizes, research generalizes.

¨ Evaluation is designed to improve something, while research is designed to prove something.

 ¨ Evaluation – so what? Research – what’s so?

¨ Evaluation – how well it works? Research– how it works?

¨ Evaluation is about what is valuable; research is about what is.

 ¨ Evaluation provides the basis for decision-making; research provides the basis for drawing conclusions.

RESEARCH

Research is a descriptive process engaged in for learning purposes, asking such questions as "What is/was?" or "What are/were the differences between?" or "What happens/happened when certain conditions are/were"? 

Research utilizes methods and analysis that inform theoretical foundations for utilization to large populations. basic research as “questions of theoretical interest, without regard to the information needs of people or organizations” (. Research tends to avoid subjectivity or value-laden commentary , especially quantitative research, to determine the worth of its subject of inquiry. Moreover, research informs theory and overall practice and is generalized to the greater population by generating information for fundamental knowledge.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment includes efforts to gather analyze and interpret evidence which describes institutional, departmental, divisional or agency effectiveness . Scholars have defined assessment as methods and analysis that lead to understanding an individual, institution, or agency without a focus on a specific program . A key aspect of assessment involves using the data gathered to improve the effectiveness.

PROGRAMME EVALUATION

Evaluation is a judgmental process, involving the assessment of findings/observations against standards, for the purpose of making decisions, asking such questions as "What is/was good?" or "Which is/was the better?" or "What conditions are the best to nurture to produce desired results?" 

Program Evaluation Finally, program evaluation involves methods and analysis that answer questions to inform programmatic improvement. Evaluation involves making judgments based on the factual information gathered during an investigation . Some specific questions might include: • Is the service needed? • Is it likely to be used? • Will it meet the unmet identified needs? • Was the service offered as planned? • Did the service help people in need? • Were costs reasonable? • What were the side effects? Program evaluation uses many methods from research to assess the merit of specific programs, agencies, initiatives, or services. Understanding how theory informs practice and development of a program does help evaluators, but developing theory remains outside the bounds of traditional evaluation.

Regards,

Prem Baboo

Research and evaluation are closely related and should be synergistic. However research and evaluation serve different purposes. The purpose of evaluation is to improve, not prove.

The difference between evaluation/assessment and research is mainly in the purpose. Evaluation is used to measure progress and to determine where to go next. Assessment, like evaluation, is for that purpose. The purpose of research is the systematic answering of a question.

Evaluation research is essential as it helps in auditing to identify course correction that could facilitate progressiveness of a project

I would think that evaluation and assessment are an essential PART of research. At some point, one has to determine whether this new research has provided any new results, anything to prove or disprove the original hypothesis, no?

How can you determine this, except by evaluating and assessing the results?

Thanks for sharing.

I agree with the view of the colleagues in which the evaluation/assessment is an essential part of a research and,  thus, research.

Besides, in my opinion, only presentation and analysis of the data without their evaluation/assessment, in order to go further, offers less than expected progress, in general, to science.

Evaluation and assessment of results is an essential and important  component of any research project. Evaluation of results is done to test the research hypothesis and to make sure that we have not made any mistakes in analysis, modelling or experimentation parts of research. 

Research is a process, defined by methods used relating to a null hypothesis.  Evaluation and assessment can be part of the methods.  They are, in this instance, not exclusive, but rather should be viewed as being an inclusive part of the process.  Which evaluation or assessment is used depends on how the research process is defined.

Dear Fridnand

The task of evaluation research to determine whether the status quo is true or wrong . With all my respects to the source, who you have mentioned, he sees the issue in a wrong way. The evaluation of what exists (practice) and the differences that get between him and the project on paper (Virtual Reality) have a significant role in identifying and minimizing the negatives and reduce the distance between the actual and virtual caught up.

Regards

Let there be n classes of methods to solve a particular class of apparently similar problems. A researcher evaluates these available solution classes and the problems to suggest the applicability of a particular solution class to a particular problem.  Such suggestion needs to be based on certain performance criterion.  The performance criteria may not be unique and therefore requires logical justification for a particular choice.  The conclusion should stand on firm logical footings.

Can we call this a research?  

Yes and essential. That is when corrections are made and progress is achieved. This is research and is evolving continuously.

For example, my students speak their minds and show me what I missed and how I could improve. How else would I know? 

Evaluation is research, this is because it will end with a conclusion, for example, you may prove the correctness of your research so the reader feels confident about your work and the result.

Additionally, there are papers that prove that existing theory or model is not true or not true under some condition; this is a research and at the same time is considered evaluation.

"Strengthening learning from research and evaluation: going with the grain", where the study involved data collection over various ways by researchers to bring it the authencity.

https://www.odi.org/publications/5154-learning-research-evaluation-dfid

Do you consider evaluation research? 

 Evaluation is a methodological area that is closely related to, but distinguishable from more traditional social research.

Evaluation utilizes many of the same methodologies used in traditional social research, but because evaluation takes place within a political and organizational context, it requires group skills, management ability, political dexterity, sensitivity to multiple stakeholders and other skills that social research in general does not rely on as much. Here we introduce the idea of evaluation and some of the major terms and issues in the field.

Definitions of Evaluation:

• Evaluation is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object
• Evaluation is the systematic acquisition and assessment of information to provide useful feedback about some object

Both definitions agree that evaluation is a systematic endeavor and both use the deliberately ambiguous term 'object' which could refer to a program, policy, technology, person, need, activity, and so on.

http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intreval.php

Assessment and evaluation are necessary to proceed with better research. These provide good understanding about the actual research area and the quality of contribution. However, I agree that these are NOT research. Research means innovation. Evaluating work of someone works is off-course not a research but it is a validation of the work.