Evaluation and Validation

C. Hall Jones & Associates, Inc., understands that the primary goal of the evaluation and validation process is to improve learning and performance. This is achieved by assessing the extent to which the course or program objectives have been met. As such, evaluation and validation are forms of quality assurance.

The assessment of learning must occur in the broader contexts of reaction, behavior, and results. Assessment and validation answer the question “Did it work here?”

A course or program evaluation and validation process concentrates on the effectiveness of five areas:

1. the quality of the instruction given
2. the quality of the learning environment
3. the quality of the course materials
4. the actual knowledge and/or skills gained by the learners at the completion of the course or program
5. the actual knowledge and/or skills gained by the learners at the completion of the course or program (evaluations conducted at a later date can determine the actual effectiveness of the training program at improving performance in the actual work setting)

Evaluation tools and techniques can include:

• Surveys
• Questionnaires
• Checklists
• Inventories
• Rating scales
• Interviews (individual and/or group)
• Focus groups
• Personal records kept at the evaluator’s request (diaries, logs, etc.)
• Course evaluations
• Program evaluations
• Participant evaluations
• Testing (knowledge and/or skills)
• Statistical analysis