Evaluation Methods and Comparative Study

The aim of this presentation is to discuss evaluation as a tool of a comparative research process. My starting point is that evaluation research is not purely comparative in nature but yet often contains elements which will forward the comparative analysis. In my presentation the analysis will focus on the following question: What kind of roles do evaluation methods have in the field of comparative analysis? 1. Comparative evaluation To be able to answer the question above I have to discuss several preliminary questions. My starting point is that comparative evaluation research has to fulfil requirements set to both comparative research and evaluation research. However, my aim is not to give long, separate quotations from the methodological literature of evaluation and comparison, but rather to try to combine these two approaches to the abstract cross-twine. To be able –at least to some degreeto illustrate this “twine” I will in my presentation analyse different types of evaluation on the basis of four principles (Table 1). These principles are briefly defined in chapters 1.1. – 1.4. They are as follows: selection of the evaluation object the level of comparison the conceptual comprehension, and the analysis of (evaluation) research results. In table 1 I have formed a frame on the basis of which the examination of the characteristics of comparative evaluation will proceed. The different types of evaluation included in the analysis will also appear on the table. As a starting point to the selection of these types I have used the classification from Chambers et. al (1992: 8-9). In this classification the evaluation research has been divided into five main categories according to the content and the essential viewpoints of the evaluation. When necessary, one or two methods are used in my presentation as examples to present each evaluation category. Table 1. The frame for the examination of comparative evaluation