Definition

Appraisal of the value of an intervention, programme, policy or provider with reference to criteria and standards (such as its relevance or efficiency).

• This term has two dimensions:
  
  
• formative evaluation: process of appraising ways of improving and enhancing the implementation and management of interventions. Formative evaluations are primarily conducted for the benefit of those managing the intervention with the intention of improving their work or related future initiatives;
• summative evaluation: systematic investigation to determine the worth or merit of a programme, measure or policy using relevant social research methods and criteria, standards and indicators;

• this term is not synonymous with: assessment of learning outcomes, inspection.