Toward clarification of program evaluation: A proposal with implications for the possible certification of evaluators

Recent attention to the topic of the possible certification of evaluators h ighlights several of the central problems facing the field. Controversies e xist regarding the purposes and methods of evaluation. Indeed, there is no generally accepted definition of the term evaluation. Such problems would m ake it very difficult to formulate criteria for certification, if that step is taken eventually. Some plausible procedures are described for classifyi ng different approaches to evaluation, and for subsequent elaboration in te rms of philosophical foundations, theory, definitions, purposes, methodolog y, and ethical guidelines for each major category or cluster of categories. Such work could act as the foundation for subsequent efforts on certificat ion and, in any case, would be enlightening about the current state and pot ential future directions of evaluation.