CRITERIA FORMULATION AND APPLICATION - AN EVALUATIVE FRAMEWORK

This paper critically examines how criteria are formulated and applied in quality assurance or quality improvement systems. It begins by dra wing attention to the division that exists between criteria derived by so-called expert groups and those developed more locally by practitio ners. In seeking to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of these two contrasting approaches, it explores the more fundamental questions of how criteria are formulated in general and how they can best be applie d. An evaluative framework is offered as a working checklist for pract itioners involved in criteria formulation. The framework identifies th ree main areas: actual construction of criteria; procedures for formul ation and issues related to application. An example of each area is of fered from results of the ODySSSy Project. The paper concludes by reco mmending more systematic studies in this highly complex area.